FINA officially declare themselves retarded

[Marlow]

Clearly, these are not the Olympic swimsuits of 2004 or even 2008. They’re faster, more high-tech and made of materials that trap air and allow for better buoyancy.

First I'd seen that admission.

[gh]

Phelps is so pissed off he's sitting things out:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/p ... le1234429/

[Marlow]

At up to 500 bucks a suit (and they don't last long), no, everybody can't get the technology. It creates an unacceptable financial wedge.

And that isn't happening at the high school level ALL the time? My PVers win sometimes just because we have more poles than other schools. Coincidentally, good poles are $500 a pop. Should the nationally federation limit the poles a school can have?

But . . . I am now reading that the suits actually DO alter a swimmer's 'ability' to go fast (other than the reduced friction) - that's a different matter!

[Pego]

Structural integrity was my term/interpretation. 4:11 news piece/interview- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =106989036

Thank you. After listening to Mr. Wood, I still don't understand, how those suits help lesser athletes over the better ones, but he insisted, that is the case.

[lonewolf]

[The key is that anyone can get the technology. In swimming, everyone can have the suit. Level playing field.

In theory yes but not every HS swimmer can afford to buy these slick suits. Perhaps it is not an issue at the world level but my granddaughter, a nationally ranked HS swimmer, in her own reverse leveling of the playing field, declined wearing the suit because not all swimmers had them. Didn't seem to matter, she still defeated swimmers who wore the suits.

[dakota]

How long before the world records from last year will be broken? Will there be a bunch of unbreakable records from 2008 hanging over the sport for the foreseeable future?

Most of them got broken this afternoon. Or at least that's what it seemed like.

[bhall]

The perception is that the suits aid lesser athletes more. Whether that is reality or not I don't know.

[gh]

I've never thought an individual sport should be about who has the better engineer on his side.

The Pole Vault, the Javelin and the Discus, all employ high-tech engineers. Not all implements are created equal. The key is that anyone can get the technology. In swimming, everyone can have the suit. Level playing field.

At up to 500 bucks a suit (and they don't last long), no, everybody can't get the technology. It creates an unacceptable financial wedge.

[bhall]

Structural integrity was my term/interpretation. 4:11 news piece/interview- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =106989036

[lapsus]

Javelin results from 1991 were nullified, including Räty's 96.96. FINA should have done the same for the world records set with at least the latest round of bodysuits.

How long before the world records from last year will be broken? Will there be a bunch of unbreakable records from 2008 hanging over the sport for the foreseeable future?

Oh well. I hope that FINA at least won't be adopting beach volleyball-like coverage rules for the swimsuits :wink:

[Marlow]

I've never thought an individual sport should be about who has the better engineer on his side.

The Pole Vault, the Javelin and the Discus, all employ high-tech engineers. Not all implements are created equal. The key is that anyone can get the technology. In swimming, everyone can have the suit. Level playing field.

[dakota]

Is anybody watching these world championships this afternoon? World records left right and centre. In heats. In finals. On the first legs of relays. Completely ridiculous.

[Pego]

Interview I heard indicated that the suits also aided the structural integrity (core) of the athlete. So weaker athletes were aided more by the suits.

Did they explain the "structural integrity"? What exactly does it do to the body that reduces the handicap? I can understand shaping of the body, but this term is new to me.

[bhall]

Interview I heard indicated that the suits also aided the structural integrity (core) of the athlete. So weaker athletes were aided more by the suits.

[gh]

Buoyancy isn't the issue; it's the artificial reduction of drag that's at issue. This stuff is much slipperier than skin. And wearing "full body" suits can also change one's body configuration (for the better).

I've never thought an individual sport should be about who has the better engineer on his side.