Do any of you guys who follow college swimming have a sense yet about the impact of the FINA tech suit ban is having on elite swimming times?
I tried looking up results this year and last year--I know the Championships haven't taken place yet for the top tier, but some big meet started Feb 17th (and is presumably over now)--but I just couldn't figure out how to find the data necessary to make a preliminary comparison.
Thanks.
The conference championships I followed were ACCs (for my alma mater) and A10s (since I know some of the UR swimmers).
Men ACCs: www.theacc.com/.../
Women ACCs: www.theacc.com/.../
A-10s (combined): www.star-meets.org/.../index.htm
I don't have any time to do a systematic study, but an effect didn't jump out at me for most people. I would expect the men to be more affected than the women, but I'm not sure that's the case.
In some cases, because of conference records and the like, you can directly compare without hunting up last year's results. For example, in the ACCs:
Men's 200 back: Andy Hodgson went 1:42.13 this year, 1:41.14 last year
Men's 400 IM: Gal Nevo went 3:40.47 this year, 3:39.33 last year.
Mens' 100 fly: Tommy Wyher went 45.57 this year, 46.21 last year.
Men's 100 back: Tommy Wyher went 46.08 this year, 46.41 last year.
Men's 100 free: Scot Robison went 42.42 this year, 42.89 last year.
Hardly apocalyptic changes. I'm guessing these people aren't going to be quitting swimming anytime soon because they are so discouraged by their poor performances.
But maybe the short sprint frees are most affected. I seem to remember there were a lot of people under 20.0 last year; this year there were only 3.
The conference championships I followed were ACCs (for my alma mater) and A10s (since I know some of the UR swimmers).
Men ACCs: www.theacc.com/.../
Women ACCs: www.theacc.com/.../
A-10s (combined): www.star-meets.org/.../index.htm
I don't have any time to do a systematic study, but an effect didn't jump out at me for most people. I would expect the men to be more affected than the women, but I'm not sure that's the case.
In some cases, because of conference records and the like, you can directly compare without hunting up last year's results. For example, in the ACCs:
Men's 200 back: Andy Hodgson went 1:42.13 this year, 1:41.14 last year
Men's 400 IM: Gal Nevo went 3:40.47 this year, 3:39.33 last year.
Mens' 100 fly: Tommy Wyher went 45.57 this year, 46.21 last year.
Men's 100 back: Tommy Wyher went 46.08 this year, 46.41 last year.
Men's 100 free: Scot Robison went 42.42 this year, 42.89 last year.
Hardly apocalyptic changes. I'm guessing these people aren't going to be quitting swimming anytime soon because they are so discouraged by their poor performances.
But maybe the short sprint frees are most affected. I seem to remember there were a lot of people under 20.0 last year; this year there were only 3.
