Suit choices of the top 3 competitors in the 10k Open Water Race!

Suit choices of the top 3 competitors in the 10k Open Water Race!

Amanda Weir swims her sprints in a TYR A7 and Fran Crippen just earned himself a bronze in the 10k open water portion at the FINA World Championships wearing one as well.

(It was a pretty messy decision to determine third and so I should not be talking about the race specifics but Steve Munatones can: [Link] )

Andrew Gemmell claimed the silver in a blueseventy NERO which has been proven to be the de facto standard for masters in both distance, middle distance, and sprints.

I am presuming that Thomas Lurz was wearing an Adidas when he claimed the gold but so little is known about Adidas in America...

So what have we learned about this? Despite massive budgets from power-houses like Speedo and Nike, the cream is rising to the top and the Speedo LZR isn't floating very well. Sure it is doing pretty good in the pool but it is now demonstrable that we have speedsuit manufacturers who are making swimsuits you can wear in any event and be fast and not have to worry about suit failures.

That to me is extraordinarily compelling.

What a coincidence it is that FINA politicians are right now being lobbied to return swimmers to both briefs and onesies!

Innovation like this can't and won't be suppressed. If FINA closes the door on speedsuits, I predict a second governing body will arise in the form of a 'Pro-League' and the last thing FINA would want is a second governing body making even more money than they do. Example: Gambling on 'keirin' or cycling racing in Japan generates $15 billion annually.

If a pro league was able to generate only one-tenth of that amount who do you think the IOC is goiong to take more seriously when it comes to sending a "dream team"?

With proper planning, revenue streams through gambling, which I have been looking into, let Alan Thompson and Mark Schubert can have their "wear briefs or go to jail rules" and everybody else can have fun.

I think mixing open water racing and pool racing like horse racing mixes turf and track would make for a dynamic sport to watch.

The Thomas Lurz photo came from this AP article nicely detailing the race: [Link]

The photo f Fran Crippen and Andrew Gemmell come to us from the Miami Herald who covers it in detail as well: [Link]

Suits worn in the women's 50-Free: Dara wears Jaked - Amanda wears the TYR - A7

Joan Rivers of Oscar night red carpet fame is at USA Swimming Nationals and she sent me this report form last nights woman's 50-free:

"...Dara Torres wins the 50-free in a time of 24:43 wearing a midnight black, Jaked 01, while incongruously accessorized with a Speedo cap and goggle set.

Amanda Weir placed second dressed elegantly in an A7 TYR accessorize by solely by TYR. Red carpet photographers were all over her.

(AP says Dara was wearing a Speedo LZR on Thursday but USA Today has a photo of her wearing a Jaked: [Link] )

Kidding aside, what does this tell us: TYR is quite "fluid" in bringing products to market whereas Speedo had to literally outsource their athletes to Jaked and Arena. This move by Speedo is a complete capitulation and explains the "burning bush" that both Alan Thompson and Mark Schubert saw when they decided to become "purists" rather than pro-LZR. Their conversion stinks of money if you ask me.

Amanda Weir, white courtesy telephone please: I'm sold, the TYR A7 is for sale now and I am buying one since Weir set a personal best, has now entered the top 20 of the fastest 50-free times ever and the A7 will match my SCAQ silicon black cap, or so says, Joan Rivers. ;-)

The A7 Tracer Revealed at the TYR website!

I saw the A7 at the TYR 2009 Swim Meet of Champions and but I thought is was a Titan. I was very wrong and I should have taken a photo. >.<

What TYR says about the technology: "... TYR has continued to improve upon its proprietary “zoned compression” model of performance suits. The A7 securely locks muscles in, providing precise compression where muscle fatigue can form during exertion, while also allowing range of movement throughout the torso, hips and knees with the BioMark III neoprene. The suit caters to a swimmer’s range of movement while addressing muscle oxygenation, and energy return. ..."

[Link]

There is information about the dual fabrics they use and two other innovations in regards to "core panel", and a "neck panel" to provide more comfort.