Swimming

Let me tell you something… Preserving the integrity of a sport is vital. Why are there so many penalties called in football? To preserve integrity! Why are there regulations in performance enhancing drugs? To preserve integrity! (And to prevent serious medical problems…eek) And why did the international governing body of swimming (FINA) ban the use of high tech swim suits in competition? To preserve integrity!
Yes, October 1st was the last time that the “new generation” technologies were legal in the sport of swimming. 18 months before that, Speedo released a suit that sparked innovation. It was called the LZR racer. It had ultrasonically welded seams, neoprene panels, and core stabilizers. It had been produced using technology from NASA for God’s sake! It was released a few months before the Beijing Olympics, and its purpose was to enhance performance for these Olympics. And it proved to do just that. 25 out the 34 events had new world records set...at these games alone. Speedo was not the only company that released a suit of this quality. Both TYR and Nike released new suits, but were not publicized as much as the LZR.
It seemed like a new age was beginning. Technology was blanketing the sport. Major athletes like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte sponsored this new suit and proceeded set world records in it. Michael Phelps had won his eight gold medals (WHERE THE GOLD AT?!), which put swimming on the radar (for once). This brought a bit of attention to the swim meets following the Olympics. And the world records that were coincidentally dropping like flies.
European companies like Jaked and Arena released new suits that were solely made out of thick neoprene. They contoured around the body’s curves in a perfect streamline that propelled swimmers through the water. They also were EXTREMELY buoyant. This increase in buoyancy was probably the most drastic change. It allowed swimmers to kick faster underwater after a flip turn. Something that had previously separated the elite. Also, it allowed swimmers to “last longer” at their top speed. It truly gave an advantage. It was noted that these full neoprene suits even had a sizeable advantage over the LZR.
Here is a perfect example. Alexander Popov was the greatest sprinter of his time. He owned the world record in the 50 meter freestyle for decades. His record was finally broken in the early 00’s. Since then he has been sitting at number two on the all time list for that event. During the 18 month span that these high tech neoprene suits were available, 40 MORE PEOPLE posted a faster than him. Imma let you finish… but something is not right with that picture.
These suits literally advertised 14% time drop in all events. That is outrageous.
The first highly anticipated meet with widespread use of these so-called “supersuits” was the World Championship Trials for the US. It was aired on CBS. Much of the commentary was in regard to the supersuits, which were on almost all the athletes. Numerous world records continued to fall. The discussion was heated on whether these suits would still be legal come 2010. Little did they know, this was nothing compared with what was to come.
The World Chamionships in Rome, Italy were held at the end of this past July. It is a 13 day event second in gravity only to the Olympics. This meet boasted the best competition from around the world. Also, it boasted the newest innovations in “swimming technology.” This meant supersuits on everybody.
Records were smashed.
All but 2 events resulted in a “new world record” which, by the end of the meet, was completely lackluster. Barriers were obliterated. Barriers that had taken years to build were destroyed by people that no one had heard of before. Most notably was Paul Biederman. He bested Phelps’s record in the 200 meter freestyle by a full second. And no offense to Paul, but who the hell is that!? Because I’m pretty sure I had never heard of him. Bob Bowman, Phelps’s coach, said, “It took Michael from 2003-2008 to go from 1:46 to 1:42.9 and this guy’s done it in 11 months. That is a truly amazing training program. I would love to hear how it works.”
Milrod Cavic raised controversy about these suits at the Rome World Championships. He lost to Phelps by one hundredth of a second at the Olympics the year before and he was out for revenge. He was wearing the new Arena suit. Arguably the “most high tech.” Cavic talked trash about Phelps the day before the race. Phelps was required to wear the LZR suit instead of the new new suits like Cavic would wear, and Cavic said if Phelps was complaining about his lesser generation suit that is was unjustified. Phelps beat him in the race, so it was a moot point.
After the World Championships, FINA (the governing body of international swimming) immediately met and discussed the potential banning of these suits. They compromised the sport’s integrity. They made it possible for swimmers at all levels to get away with not training or being in good shape. One just relied on their 550$ swimsuit. The 130 world records that fell in one year were not just a coincidence. It was ridiculous. Something needed to change. Suit technologies were great, until it got to the point where the suit is doing the work. We were at that point.
The original decision was to ban suits starting on January 1, 2010. But after the HUUGE realization that they were ruining everything in the sport of swimming, it got forwarded to October 1, 2009. Regulations on fabrics and body coverage were made. So far, it has proved to be difficult for those who relied on the suits for the past year and a half. Luckily, I (yes, I swim) never bought into it and am now basking in the wisdom and envy of others (not really! But yes really.)

Sources:
-Splash Magazine (Bob Bowman quote)
-60 Minutes (documentary)
-Lexington Herald-Leader (article on banning suits)
-usaswimming.org (swim meet information)
-wikipedia.com (Olympic results)