Speed Suits (Swimming)

I am disappointed in a huge way with the sport of competitive swimming.  Swimming is not, and should not be, in my opinion an "equipment" sport.  It's an athlete and water.  Aside from open water events the distance is set,  the course is consistent and up until these darns super swim suits, you could pretty much compare the swims of today with those of years ago.  

Sure there have been technical rule changes in the strokes, but that still leaves the athlete to master the technical part and train hard to achieve their goal time.  Now, you have super buoyant swim suits that cover the athlete, making a more streamlined figure through the water.  Darn, might as well let swimmers get on a surf board and just paddle.

Further, you now have times set in the new suits, from local to world records and it's pretty much aided not by better training or a mental breakthrough but because of some new material, trapped air inside the suit and the floatation properties of the suit.  All this translates into, "let's buy some speed."  There is a gray zone now.  Some records have been set and we'll see if they stick or if they have an asterisk in the record books or if they will just nullify them.  What a mess.

Now, you have a sport where the equipment is going to be a $1000 dollar commitment annually because these suits are not only super buoyant but also super expensive.  Being in the sport of triathlon since 1986 I have seen a whole explosion of products that give athletes more speed if they are willing to cough up some dollars.  Race wheels, 3 grand (yes, $3000 dollars without tires) aerobars for over 400 bucks, where does it end.  Well I can except that almost because it a technology sport.  The bike is a machine, a wonderful one, but by the nature of it it is outside the athlete which changes the whole dynamic.  It is a necessary piece of equipment so it's fair game.  

Swimming though, what a beautiful sport we had.  Nothing but you, the starting block, 25 or 50 meters of water and it's go time.  Now I hear kids say things like, well I was 2 tenths of my national cut but with the suit I think I can be there and make the time standard..."  How disappointing to rely on some new tech instead of your own guts, hard work and determination.

I wonder who is getting a big paycheck?  My feeling is that the people who make the rules at FINA and USA Swimming might be getting a sweet little stash of cash to create rules that allow the new suits.  Disappointing when you take a once pretty pure sport and throw the dynamic of an arguably unfair edge to the competitors whose hunger for improvement becomes clouded by an untrue assist.  More on this as we go...

Stay true!  Coach Dave