By Dave Rollins, Assistant Swimming Coach Northern Arizona University/Head Coach Flagstaff Peaks Aquatic Club
The speed suits.
When I was first asked to write a blog about the latest and greatest in swim suit technology I had one thing run through my head, ad-nauseam. Who has not already talked about this issue? Who has not beaten it to death yet? Then I thought, alright, here is a chance to say my side of the issue, how it affected my swimmers and how FINA stepped in.
If you have been hiding under a rock the past few months, or did the right thing and just ignored all this suit talk, here is a little background. In 2000, Speedo (the World’s largest and most influential swimming manufacturer) came out with the “Fastskin” racing suit. Their tagline was it was faster then shark skin. Since the introduction of this suit there have been multiple imitations and improvements.
In 2008 we saw the Speedo LZR Racer. The “worlds fastest swim suit.” Today we have many suits that are even faster and Speedo was left in the dust. Many coaches and swimmers are complaining that the suits are unfair to the sport, the term “country club sport” often comes with swimming, and the $500 and up price tag is not helping. These new “Super Suits” are made up of material that water and air cannot pass through, as well as keep a swimmer more buoyant in the water. As we all know, the more buoyant you are, the faster you will swim. That is the main argument against the suits, they are just too fast.
Others are complaining that they cannot get their hands on the suits and are at an “unfair technological advantage.” Both are valid and interesting points.
The supporters for the suits are those who say that it is just a technological advancement for the sport. First it was the original Speedo that Johnny Weismuller wore before he became Tarzan. Then it was the introduction of goggles (which resulted in 29 world records at one swimming meet), shaving ones body hair to reduce drag and wearing racing caps. Now it has moved to what you are wearing. The suits help prevent fatigue, they make you more buoyant and are extremely water repellant. So where does it go from here?
Last week the Swimming World was on watch as the FINA (the international governing body for swimming) World Swimming Championships were held in Rome, Italy. FINA was holding meetings all week to figure out the suit issue and has come out with multiple dates and ideas of what to do. FINA decided that as of January 1, 2010, all of the latest and greatest (including the Beijing Olympics Speedo LZR) will be banned and not allowed in any FINA sponsored events. It is up to the national governing bodies to follow suit, no pun intended. USA Swimming will do whatever FINA does, as will most other nations.
The suits must esentially go back to the way it was before 2008. Even the 2000 models of suits have to be modified to fit the new rules. Men will no longer be able to wear full body suits. The suit can only cover the thigh. Women’s suits may cover the thighs and their torso, that is all. No zippers to keep suits up, they must have elastic shoulder straps.
This is a severe cutback of what has been allowed. Is it a good thing? Who knows, it will most certainly cut back on the price of the suits. Will a company be able to charge over $500 for a suit that only covers a man’s legs? I do not think so, especially when we all know you can get a pair of biker shorts for under $60.
The biggest benefit that will come from this suit cut back will be in public interest in the sport and collegiate funding. From what I see, allowing the suits to be less expensive means that more people can participate. This is a great thing. Also, when a college coach goes to their Athletic Director and tells them that they will be able to save them thousands of dollars because the cost of suits has gone down, the AD will most likely have a smile from ear to ear. A program that is actually saving an athletics department money? What? That’s ridiculous. But it is true. Here at NAU it might not be much, but saving a couple thousand dollars a year will be huge in return. Some schools spent tens of thousands of dollars on swim suits this past year. The savings for them will be even greater.
Some people will not be happy that the suits will not be allowed. Most of them will be working for the suit companies that spent hundreds of thousands on research and development to make the suits. Some say they will lose all of what they invested. The truth is, that money was gone anyway. They spent it on development. It’s what an economist would call a “sunk cost.” They will move on, and create a new product that people will buy.
In the end, I believe that the suits were awesome. It was not the suit that swam across the pool; it was the person in it. Granted, the suit did make it easier to swim across the pool. In the end it will be better for the sport not having them. At this year’s World Championships over 35 world records were set. The most ever at any single swimming meet, the most since the introduction of goggles (where one could finally SEE the wall). Will it be a long time before these records are broken? Who knows, it could only be 6 months. Only time will tell. In the end though, the sport will be much better off.
The speed suits.
When I was first asked to write a blog about the latest and greatest in swim suit technology I had one thing run through my head, ad-nauseam. Who has not already talked about this issue? Who has not beaten it to death yet? Then I thought, alright, here is a chance to say my side of the issue, how it affected my swimmers and how FINA stepped in.
If you have been hiding under a rock the past few months, or did the right thing and just ignored all this suit talk, here is a little background. In 2000, Speedo (the World’s largest and most influential swimming manufacturer) came out with the “Fastskin” racing suit. Their tagline was it was faster then shark skin. Since the introduction of this suit there have been multiple imitations and improvements.
In 2008 we saw the Speedo LZR Racer. The “worlds fastest swim suit.” Today we have many suits that are even faster and Speedo was left in the dust. Many coaches and swimmers are complaining that the suits are unfair to the sport, the term “country club sport” often comes with swimming, and the $500 and up price tag is not helping. These new “Super Suits” are made up of material that water and air cannot pass through, as well as keep a swimmer more buoyant in the water. As we all know, the more buoyant you are, the faster you will swim. That is the main argument against the suits, they are just too fast.
Others are complaining that they cannot get their hands on the suits and are at an “unfair technological advantage.” Both are valid and interesting points.
The supporters for the suits are those who say that it is just a technological advancement for the sport. First it was the original Speedo that Johnny Weismuller wore before he became Tarzan. Then it was the introduction of goggles (which resulted in 29 world records at one swimming meet), shaving ones body hair to reduce drag and wearing racing caps. Now it has moved to what you are wearing. The suits help prevent fatigue, they make you more buoyant and are extremely water repellant. So where does it go from here?
Last week the Swimming World was on watch as the FINA (the international governing body for swimming) World Swimming Championships were held in Rome, Italy. FINA was holding meetings all week to figure out the suit issue and has come out with multiple dates and ideas of what to do. FINA decided that as of January 1, 2010, all of the latest and greatest (including the Beijing Olympics Speedo LZR) will be banned and not allowed in any FINA sponsored events. It is up to the national governing bodies to follow suit, no pun intended. USA Swimming will do whatever FINA does, as will most other nations.
The suits must esentially go back to the way it was before 2008. Even the 2000 models of suits have to be modified to fit the new rules. Men will no longer be able to wear full body suits. The suit can only cover the thigh. Women’s suits may cover the thighs and their torso, that is all. No zippers to keep suits up, they must have elastic shoulder straps.
This is a severe cutback of what has been allowed. Is it a good thing? Who knows, it will most certainly cut back on the price of the suits. Will a company be able to charge over $500 for a suit that only covers a man’s legs? I do not think so, especially when we all know you can get a pair of biker shorts for under $60.
The biggest benefit that will come from this suit cut back will be in public interest in the sport and collegiate funding. From what I see, allowing the suits to be less expensive means that more people can participate. This is a great thing. Also, when a college coach goes to their Athletic Director and tells them that they will be able to save them thousands of dollars because the cost of suits has gone down, the AD will most likely have a smile from ear to ear. A program that is actually saving an athletics department money? What? That’s ridiculous. But it is true. Here at NAU it might not be much, but saving a couple thousand dollars a year will be huge in return. Some schools spent tens of thousands of dollars on swim suits this past year. The savings for them will be even greater.
Some people will not be happy that the suits will not be allowed. Most of them will be working for the suit companies that spent hundreds of thousands on research and development to make the suits. Some say they will lose all of what they invested. The truth is, that money was gone anyway. They spent it on development. It’s what an economist would call a “sunk cost.” They will move on, and create a new product that people will buy.
In the end, I believe that the suits were awesome. It was not the suit that swam across the pool; it was the person in it. Granted, the suit did make it easier to swim across the pool. In the end it will be better for the sport not having them. At this year’s World Championships over 35 world records were set. The most ever at any single swimming meet, the most since the introduction of goggles (where one could finally SEE the wall). Will it be a long time before these records are broken? Who knows, it could only be 6 months. Only time will tell. In the end though, the sport will be much better off.
oh my gooood dave, that sucks!!
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