Why is swimming going backwards while other sports like cycling don't seem to have a problem with new technology?
Virtually any sport that uses equipment will regulate/standardize that equipment. Cycling is certainly no exception; for example, despite your statement, it isn't true that you can use just any bike in a competition. (Seen any recumbents in competitions lately?)
The bottom line is that, for most of its history, the equipment you chose in swim competitions (cap, goggles, suit) were mostly a personal preference and just weren't much of a factor in whether you won or lost. That changed: technology became a very significant player.
So you're going to have a camp of people who think that training and talent alone should be the determining factors, and another camp who don't have a problem with technology also playing a significant role. At this point, the first camp of people have won their case (particularly on the men's side of things). There isn't really a right or wrong here.
Why is swimming going backwards while other sports like cycling don't seem to have a problem with new technology?
Virtually any sport that uses equipment will regulate/standardize that equipment. Cycling is certainly no exception; for example, despite your statement, it isn't true that you can use just any bike in a competition. (Seen any recumbents in competitions lately?)
The bottom line is that, for most of its history, the equipment you chose in swim competitions (cap, goggles, suit) were mostly a personal preference and just weren't much of a factor in whether you won or lost. That changed: technology became a very significant player.
So you're going to have a camp of people who think that training and talent alone should be the determining factors, and another camp who don't have a problem with technology also playing a significant role. At this point, the first camp of people have won their case (particularly on the men's side of things). There isn't really a right or wrong here.
