When Sullivan demanded that polyurethane suits be banned? It was his sponsor, Speedo, that built the "Poly-'U'-word" into our suits in the first place. He was ultimately dismissing his own suit an subsequently he was branded a "suit-hater!"
Apparently he had no idea the consequences of his rhetoric:
Australian world record holder Eamon Sullivan has slammed FINA’s decision to go back to textile swimsuits, comparing it to asking Roger Federer to play tennis with a wooden racquet. [ I got so flamed for saying those same words - Tony!]
Sullivan, who set his 100m freestyle world record in a soon-to-be-illegal Speedo LZR at the says he has mixed views on the changes to come next year fearing times will become much slower.“For me personally it’s a bit of sour grapes because some people don’t want the sport to get faster and its like telling Roger Federer to go back to a wooden racquet,”
[Link]
[UPDATE] From Steve: "... The quote is inaccurate. The actual quote is "for me personally, I think there's a bit of, not sour grapes, but people are not wanting the sport to get faster..." You can watch the video here:
[Link]
I predict the following, the next in line to suddenly turn into bona fide suit-lovers will be Libby Trickett, followed by Bob Bowman and Michael Phelps.
The consequences are becoming apparent: People are getting laid off, athlete contracts will be getting smaller, no more world record bonuses, swimming returns to the underground.
11 comments:
The quote is inaccurate. The actual quote is "for me personally, I think there's a bit of, not sour grapes, but people are not wanting the sport to get faster." You can watch the video here:
http://bigpondvideo.com/Focus/197096
Eamon's view has been consistent. Keep the LZR, R-Evolution, Tracer Rise but ban the 100% Polyurethane suits.
Thanks Steve, I am going to add the link and first paragraph and link to the post for an update
Hey Tony:
Just the way Speedo wants it..back to where they are basicaly the only party in town, and the only way you get invited to the party...is if someone on their payroll invites you...!
Your conclusion implies swimming will lose money when it returns to "fabric". That idea can't be any more wrong. Corporations are in it for a profit, and any sponsorships they give out has to come from somewhere - the age group/high school population would be footing the bill by having to buy expensive suits in order to remain competitive. Involving for-profit enterprises is always a negative sum game. You need only to look at American health care to see the eventual end result. I say the decision to ban the suits is the right one for the long term health of the sport. Luckily the overwhelming majority agree.
Hi Scott, I spoke to a CEO who told me that their budget for swimming related events is in proportion to their profits.
Selling 40,000 speedsuit units is like selling 400,000 briefs.
I spoke to another who confirmed sewing unit contracts ended.
I think the math is on my side.
My real question is how the heck did Bolt wear a speed suit in his 100 meter record...
I noticed that too. He broke his record again
The issue - to me - is not the suits. It was the way the suits got introduced.
I really do believe they'll be back but under a much more controlled circumstance.
Hi Tony - if you think the math is on your side after a CEO says "their budget for swimming related events is in proportion to their profits" be glad that you're in advertising and not cost accounting. The parents of competitive age group swimmers world wide will rejoice that future savings will be enough to reduce elite sponsorships to one tenth of what the swimsuit manufacturers were originally projecting.
Then age groupers should "vote speedsuits off the island."
I want speedsuits at the elite level but I think the "kids and parents" argument is just a ruse to get them banned.
See, that shows you, Scott. ;-P
A somewhat reasonable argument at first glance Tony, but it proved unfeasible in practice (many countries, including the U.S.A., tried limiting the impact of the new suits in age group swimming). Beyond the swimsuit manufacturers' largely successful campaigning to keep speedsuits in age group swimming (all you have to do is bribe (oops - "convince") a few national committee members) there's also the thorny question of how to introduce the suits to those attempting to enter international competition. An acceptable answer to that has yet to be found. Anyways the question is moot as keeping two sets of rules wasn't feasible. The impact of the suits became evident immediately - age group meets, especially championships, started seeing more and more technosuits on the blocks, which has led to faster qualifying times for the coveted events, which in turn started forcing parents to buy the suits so their child could simply qualify. No, your rebuttal has all the weight of an Obama-led negotiation to have the health industry keep costs down so long as the "Public Option" is kept off the table. Most of us aren't as naive as he is and I suspect you aren't either. ;>)
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