I have no link yet but this from a reader in the UK.
'British Swimming has published the following announcement :
In addition to complying with FINA General Rule 5, the swimwear in these competitions must comply with By-Laws 8.2 and 8.3 concerning the style and material used. 'This does not prevent the use of a zip or other fastening as this is not mentioned in these provisions. British Records may be achieved.
However, if a World or European Record is to be claimed, then the swimwear must meet the requirements of the issuing authority. This is separate from the General Rules and By-Laws and is subject to change at any time.'
I spoke to a lady - I think her name was Anne Davies - at The British Swimming Org, who confirmed this to be the case. Also she said can be found on the British Swimming web site. I havn't actually looked for it yet but it must be there.
I have no link yet but this from a reader in the UK.
6 comments:
What an amazing picture. Look at the film of water over his head! It shows how much technology and research goes into swimming.
I think the British federation is taking the right stance regarding tech suit use, at least when it applies to masters events. There's absolutely no reason for the ban if being used by those only out for some fun and fitness. Let those hyper competitive types declare their intent and demonstrate beforehand that they meet all the necessary conditions for competitive (and comparative) times. My big question is why British Swimming plans to accept the use of tech suits for all national records? The impracticability of multiple standards is only a prescription for future trouble. It's time they bit the bullet and resolved how the past two years are to be reflected in their records.
The average reader of this blog makes more money than an A-List swimmer. A B-list swimmer, meaning someone who makes the finals at the Olympics but does not place fairs worse.
Suits have to come back and they will once Phelps retires and there is no heir apparent to take his place.
Athletes need the money and so do the companies.
On moral grounds, you have the high ground, survival wise, swimming has to adapt like the winter Olympics did with "roller derby" events like snocross and such.
I love the new Olympic events such as snow cross, short track speed skating, luge, and the like. The more traditional events like the biathlon, Nordic cross-country, and figure skating leave me cold. ;) But they are different sports. What would you propose swimming do, add a fifth stroke? Submerged dolphin anyone?
Ultimately it comes down to not seeing how tech suits makes swimming more interesting to the non-enthusiast; just as different makes of ski equipment don't seem to have any measurable impact on skiing's popularity. IMHO a sport's high profile rests far more on the quality of its stars than anything else.
Well the alternative would be returning to the days when swimmers would retire in their early twenties. That would be a shame because this increase in career longevity has created the most talented and competitive group of swimmers in swimming history by a wide margin. Sigh. I guess what goes up must come down.
They use to have ticker-tape parades for people who swam the English channel. Swimmers became movie stars, Plural.
Swimming is tuning into chess or backgammon. The rule carved deeply into marble and refuses to keep with the current Zeitgist attention span wise.
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