SUIT EQUALITY

Ultimately, I think it is an aesthetic choice: those who feel it is 'pure' to eschew the suits and those who enjoy the beauty and speed. Neither is better morally or otherwise. It's a matter of taste. .... Given how much time and money we invest in this sport the cost, while irksome, would not prevent most of us from buying one. Agreed that it isn't an ethical decision for most people. I don't know that it is completely aesthetic, though; I thought they were a nuisance to deal with, myself. When I looked thru the comments of those who voted against the suits in the VA survey, many gave some version of the "purity" argument that you describe (eg, training/talent alone should dictate the outcome, not training/talent+swimwear). As you say, a personal preference. But some anti-suit comments did cite "cost and fairness" or "level playing field." Agree with them or not, those are ethical arguments. While cost would not prevent "most" from buying one, as you say, one could offer an ethical argument to protect the rights of the minority for whom it is an issue. Whether this is a valid or strong point is a matter of disagreement, of course. Do all masters want to ignore FINA Rules?? Are you all ready for the consequences?? I believe the suits should be allowed, however they (FINA) have a list of approved suits. Is USMS going to follow the approved list or are they going to go the other way. Then will any swims in illegal suits be recognized?? The proposal is only to allow "FINA-forbidden" suits for the SCY season. No one has proposed (formally) that USMS disregard FINA rules for meters courses, so I don't think there would be any "consequences" of the type you imply. Actually there are two proposals for SCY meets, what might be called the "wetsuit" proposal and the "zipper & coverage" proposal. The first proposal would be "anything goes" (including wetsuits, though they aren't explicitly mentioned) in SCY meets. I'm scratching my head over what Pacific thought they would accomplish with that one. The 2nd proposal is for equal coverage, and zippers would be allowed (again, zippers aren't explicitly mentioned, but they aren't forbidden either). This is basically the one Ande is asking about.

Ultimately, I think it is an aesthetic choice: those who feel it is 'pure' to eschew the suits and those who enjoy the beauty and speed. Neither is better morally or otherwise. It's a matter of taste. .... Given how much time and money we invest in this sport the cost, while irksome, would not prevent most of us from buying one. Agreed that it isn't an ethical decision for most people. I don't know that it is completely aesthetic, though; I thought they were a nuisance to deal with, myself. When I looked thru the comments of those who voted against the suits in the VA survey, many gave some version of the "purity" argument that you describe (eg, training/talent alone should dictate the outcome, not training/talent+swimwear). As you say, a personal preference. But some anti-suit comments did cite "cost and fairness" or "level playing field." Agree with them or not, those are ethical arguments. While cost would not prevent "most" from buying one, as you say, one could offer an ethical argument to protect the rights of the minority for whom it is an issue. Whether this is a valid or strong point is a matter of disagreement, of course. Do all masters want to ignore FINA Rules?? Are you all ready for the consequences?? I believe the suits should be allowed, however they (FINA) have a list of approved suits. Is USMS going to follow the approved list or are they going to go the other way. Then will any swims in illegal suits be recognized?? The proposal is only to allow "FINA-forbidden" suits for the SCY season. No one has proposed (formally) that USMS disregard FINA rules for meters courses, so I don't think there would be any "consequences" of the type you imply. Actually there are two proposals for SCY meets, what might be called the "wetsuit" proposal and the "zipper & coverage" proposal. The first proposal would be "anything goes" (including wetsuits, though they aren't explicitly mentioned) in SCY meets. I'm scratching my head over what Pacific thought they would accomplish with that one. The 2nd proposal is for equal coverage, and zippers would be allowed (again, zippers aren't explicitly mentioned, but they aren't forbidden either). This is basically the one Ande is asking about.