Mel Stewart for Yahoo Sports:
"..."The sport's not about swimming anymore." [>.< ]Most swimwear manufactures aren't necessarily on the same page.
Quietly, out of the spotlight, they've been grumbling. Most are in favor of the hi-tech suits - and their high price-point, which drives revenue. These dollars drive swimwear contracts, and it's clear these contracts will be cut, or significantly reduced, for athletes just out of the medal hunt.
Will the fallout of the 2010 FINA ban on hi-tech suits result in little or no swimwear endorsement dollars for athletes like Tyler McGill?
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Others who have voiced the same opinions have been laughed off by a British swim journalist. I think the aftermath alone will illustrate what FINA has done to garment workers, athletes, swimsuit companies and the growth of the sport.
10 comments:
that's why alain bernard and hugues dubosq have signed up with the french gendarmery the french military police to have a regular revenu and not just depend on the suit compagny for their revenu.
WOW! Sounds like TV show!
Alain and Hugues: Two swimmers on the French National Team - They fight crime!
WOUAH ! Ressemble à de l'exposition de TV ! Alain et Hugues : Deux nageurs sur l'équipe nationale française - elles combattent le crime !
^_^
I recall that some of the German Ironman triathletes also were "Army" and so employed and able to train full time -subsidized.
The Germans are awesome! We should put our swimmer in the Navy SEAL as instructors and give them full officer income since all have college degrees
this winter , alain is learning how to pilot helicopter because at the end of his swimming , he wants to pilot helicopter for the gendarmery
Dangerous job but how fun it must be to fly a helicopter all over Paris?
in france a lot of the top athletes sign with the army and with edf the french electricy compagny . all the french biathletes are in the army .
Yes - the "army option" is very popular in Germany. It allows athletes to at least live and train at the same time.
But nothing comes even close to the US college program in terms of sponsoring athletes -- 4 years of training under best coaches in the world at best swimming facilties in the world. Many college teams are better than most international National Teams. That's why so many international swimmers come here to train ...
I should become more active in lobbying for programs not to be cut!
Amen to becoming more active to prevent US college programs being cut!
NCAA Div 1 swimming, especially for the men, has some of the very best coaches on earth and the racing is absolutely first rate. The meets are short and there's lots of 'em.
FYI, one of the reasons I have been opposed to the suits is the additional costs for NCAA schools. USC, Auburn, etc. can easily afford the extra freight but the smaller programmes have struggled.
If you're really interested in the issue, Nic Brunelli is a name to remember. Hell of a swimmer and quite an organizer. He's an ASU alum and when that programme was cancelled last year, he was pivotal in organizing its ressurection.
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