"Real swimmers don't wear wetsuits"

Former Member
Former Member
The open water discussion has been a little boring lately so time to add some controversy. The above quote was affixed to a plaque my swimmers gave me when I retired as Head Coach of the University of Denver Masters Swim Team. Yes, they knew where I stood on the subject. Others share my view. In my day job as a stock broker I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal “Wimp or Triathlete, You Probably Like That New Wetsuit" by Kevin Helliker, published on September 24, 1999. In it were several memorable quotes on the subject. "How pathetic, says Betsy Brennan a Lake Michigan swimmer" "When I see people in wetsuits, I think: wimp." Another Chicagoan Ted Erikson, who did a double crossing of the English Channel without a wetsuit, said on the increasingly use of wetsuit by swimmers in Lake Michigan. "I ask them, 'Why don't you just get a boat? Boats have heaters.”:D
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    No I dont. There not swimming by themselves in a tri race but with a large group with life guards ,kayakers ect. Certain gear that you mention if your swimming by your self can get gone and I agree with you that a swimmer who swims alone should be able to deal with loosing swim "helpers" and making it back in. A wetsuit however is pretty hard to loose.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    No I dont. There not swimming by themselves in a tri race but with a large group with life guards ,kayakers ect. Certain gear that you mention if your swimming by your self can get gone and I agree with you that a swimmer who swims alone should be able to deal with loosing swim "helpers" and making it back in. A wetsuit however is pretty hard to loose.
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