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.
I did the 1650 at Carnegie Mellon U. today and posed the question to the assistant coach. He said that it's hard to compare, especially for the guys, who get a little stronger and faster each year just from growth and more training experience under the belt.
Based on how the UR women swam, it seemed clear to me that some were about as fast (or faster) than last year with the suits (they wore LZRs), while some were slower. One person in particular, who is fast but is a little heavyset, was significantly slower this year; I remember wondering before the meet whether she would be in for a disappointing meet.
But without broad, systematic studies it is v hard to draw firm conclusions, to see if (or how far) the suit effect rises above the uncertainty. Some people have bad season-ending meets and in the past you'd shrug your shoulders and say s/he missed his/her taper. Now you have this extra factor.
I did the 1650 at Carnegie Mellon U. today and posed the question to the assistant coach. He said that it's hard to compare, especially for the guys, who get a little stronger and faster each year just from growth and more training experience under the belt.
Based on how the UR women swam, it seemed clear to me that some were about as fast (or faster) than last year with the suits (they wore LZRs), while some were slower. One person in particular, who is fast but is a little heavyset, was significantly slower this year; I remember wondering before the meet whether she would be in for a disappointing meet.
But without broad, systematic studies it is v hard to draw firm conclusions, to see if (or how far) the suit effect rises above the uncertainty. Some people have bad season-ending meets and in the past you'd shrug your shoulders and say s/he missed his/her taper. Now you have this extra factor.
