This paragraph really stood out: "... Carlile also hit on another issue of concern: Money. The Speedo swimsuit is expensive -- $500 for us civilians -- and even more for competitive swimmers, who must wear new suits every 10th swim. ..." That means if I swim in 10 meets throughout the year, I have to drop another $500 to maintain the speed integrity that the suit offers. That means if I swim 3-4 SCY races, 3-4 long course meter events, and finally 3-4 short course meter events, I have to put an extra $50 in the piggy bank for each meet to purchase a news suit. [Link]
Picture updated to feature Joel Greenshields, from Airdrie, Alta; which is somewhere in Canada near Calgary.
Also here is a fascinating quote from Canoe/Slam Sports: "...
Italy head coach Alberto Castagnetti is one of the leading opponents of the new suits, which were banned at the Italian championships last week.
"This is going down a very dangerous road," Castagnetti told the AP. "It removes the purely competitive aspect of the sport and puts outside factors into play. Swimming has always been based on ability. Now, there are other aspects. It's like technological doping. It's not in the spirit of the sport."
The one world record set by a swimmer not wearing the LZR since mid-February was from Federica Pellegrini of Italy in the 400-metre freestyle at the European championships last month.
"It would be one thing if it was Michael Phelps setting all these records, but a lot of them have come from fifth-and sixth-ranked swimmers," Castagnetti said. ..." [Link]
What makes it fascinating is that an Italian coach is acknowledging Michael Phelps is the best and can't be beaten. Also, this Italian coach has seemingly coined the term "Technological Doping," a term Salon used with attribution.
4 comments:
Et Tu? Of all the pictures of the Speedo LZR I keep seeing this overly photoshopped image of Michael Phelps.
I do admit I like the term Tech Doping. Considering tech has played a role in every other sport it took swimming to put Tech Doping into the limelight.
Just to make things worse I read the media's statements about the suit lasting anywhere from six to a dozen swims literally. That is to say six to twelve races - not swim meets. Add up the money involved if you want to be competitive baby! No wonder Speedo figured its millions in R&D would show an ample return.
And I agree with Joel about the term Tech Doping. That's going to fly. Did you come up with it?
i feel articles like this take away from the performance of the athletes. these athletes have trained to race this face. speedo worked with FINA to make sure the suits would be legal.
how would you feel if i told you after all the hard work you had done, your records would be stripped? i think that would be the cruelest thing you could do to an athlete that already receives no attention because they are not a main stream sport. it also tells them they are NOT capable of receaching these times without cheating. rude!
Clay Evans feels the same way. He says he is bitter that Speedo will make so many millions on a suit people will think we make them blazingly fast when in reality it is fractions of a second.
However, two Olympians I have access to have told me that, yes, the suit really helps.
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