Tech Doping! - I love that term - Salon uses it to describe the 'Speedo LZR'

This paragraph really stood out: "... Carlile also hit on another issue of concern: Money. The Speedo swimsuit is expensive -- $500 for us civilians -- and even more for competitive swimmers, who must wear new suits every 10th swim. ..." That means if I swim in 10 meets throughout the year, I have to drop another $500 to maintain the speed integrity that the suit offers. That means if I swim 3-4 SCY races, 3-4 long course meter events, and finally 3-4 short course meter events, I have to put an extra $50 in the piggy bank for each meet to purchase a news suit. [Link]

Picture updated to feature Joel Greenshields, from Airdrie, Alta; which is somewhere in Canada near Calgary.

Also here is a fascinating quote from Canoe/Slam Sports: "...

Italy head coach Alberto Castagnetti is one of the leading opponents of the new suits, which were banned at the Italian championships last week.

"This is going down a very dangerous road," Castagnetti told the AP. "It removes the purely competitive aspect of the sport and puts outside factors into play. Swimming has always been based on ability. Now, there are other aspects. It's like technological doping. It's not in the spirit of the sport."

The one world record set by a swimmer not wearing the LZR since mid-February was from Federica Pellegrini of Italy in the 400-metre freestyle at the European championships last month.

"It would be one thing if it was Michael Phelps setting all these records, but a lot of them have come from fifth-and sixth-ranked swimmers," Castagnetti said. ..." [Link]

What makes it fascinating is that an Italian coach is acknowledging Michael Phelps is the best and can't be beaten. Also, this Italian coach has seemingly coined the term "Technological Doping," a term Salon used with attribution.

Manaudou soap opera continues: "Manaudou Wants Marin's Baby"

Now it's getting multinational in that Italy can't or won't train her unless... Snippet from Swim News:

• Marin's coach and Italian head coach Alberto Castagnetti, one of the world's leading swim mentors for many years, has already ruled out adding Manaudou to his charges and has called on common sense to prevail. "Our federation categorically wants to avoid any problems with the French federation and I am totally in agreement with that," he said. "If on the other hand Manaudou takes Italian nationality, that would be different." [Link]
  

Remember that Manadou is the French swimmer that broke Janet Evans' 400m record so she is considered a French national asset.

This "soap opera" is like Romeo and Juliet, The Hatfields' and the McCoys', and Tristan and Isolde all within a lane line.