However, if a swimmer does set a WR, tech-suit or not, the record will not be recorded but they will get an anemic $15,000 for their efforts. Unfortunately realty TV stars make more than that in a day. (MTV reality show participant, Heidi Montag, makes $100,000 a week.) Perhaps swimmers should unionize for these sort of meets?
The bad news:
Germany is not sending their best: Paul Biedermann and Britta Steffen will not be attending according to the Times Online.
Italy will not be sending Federica Pellegrini
France is not competing so there will be no Bousquet, Leveaux, Bernard, Coralie Balmy.
Australia is not invited so there will be no Eamon Sullivan, Stephanie Rice, Geoff Huegill, et al.
The spectacle, as fun as it will be to watch on a HDTV, will ultimately be a clinic for both Speedo and USA Swimming. Ironically tech-suits circa 2008 may be the best part.
4 comments:
YES! Why isn't France invited. sigh. I suppose some people would argue that inviting anyone from Europe would make it unfair numbers-wise, but the existing countries system isn't exactly fair by that measure already.
And that records thing is stupid. I wonder if that's why Biedermann wants to swim in St Petersburg (to set records? not sure).
I don't think the earnings of reality show participants is really comparable though - swimming isn't that popular. You may as well argue that they should earn the same as Bill Gates because they put in more work. Such is the nature of capitalism.
With top swimmers like Pellegrini, Biedermann and Steffen not going at this point, I think it's going to be an easy US win. :)
I hope Biedermann does set a world record in St Petersburg. This will be the "last waltz" for tech suits and the potential for 'dark horses" to come in and claim new records.
france was first invited but edf the main sponsor of the french federation was not very happy that one of the main sponsor of the duel in the pool is " british gaz " one of their main competitor in the uk. the french and british federation couldn't agree on any agreement.
Maly, I wish France could have come. I hope I see their swimmers swim in the FINA World Cup.
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