The Swimsuit Controversy at the U.S. Olympic Trials

..and here I was, all set to read a story about some rugged individualist flouting the dress code or something… :)

Leftystrat, perhaps I should use the word ’swimsuit’ more to see if it would increase traffic to Chris’ site ;)

Catherine

I wouldn’t call it cheating because everyone has the same access to the equipment, but it makes comparing new achievements to old records useless. I doubt today’s athlete, with their shark-skin exo-suit train any harder than the record holders of the past.
Then you have 3 different swim teams in the 4X100 (2008 Olympics) all smash the world record in the same race. Why bother with records at all if you allow the manageable variables to change? What’s next… flippers?

First the suits were not offered to everybody, they were specialy designed for the US olympic swimmers, but will be offered after the Olympics (maybe one or two other teams as well, not to sure though, I know others were close to getting them).- reply to strandrlop

I don’t believe it was cheating, but I think the olympic committee should do more to require equal footing of every athlete competing in the Olympics, in other word designating a more specific swim suit for all athletes, back to the old speedo days? If the French had those suits they probably would have won the relay. Incredible team, if you actually follow the sport, the US not so much.

When competing everything must be done to make sure no one has an unfair advantage.

What I don’t get is how the writer of this article is using hypothetical’s from other sports (i.e golf, basketball) to defend a real situation. Until there is a driver to drive the ball far like Tiger, please don’t use that reference. You piss people off like me who like sports and know the amount of training all athletes go through. Tiger is the way he is because of hard work, wouldn’t he be pissed if someone beat him, not by using the hard work that gor him there, but because used you so called driver.

Why are steroids illegal then? I would love it if Marion Jones uses your article to defend her position. FUNNY

“It is regrettable that the swimsuit technology argument is distracting from the swimming accomplishments. These are athletes who train for years with the Olympic competition as their focus. Now athletic achievements are being questioned; and people are discussing swimwear and technology.”

As a fan of the SF Giants and Barry Bonda I definately agree. Ho dare they bring up the subject of steroids when talking about Barry’s achievements.

Well, steroids are actually a real technological advance unlike the tiger club, or the rocket racket. LOL to funny.

I’m sure Phelps is a great swimmer and probably would have won the medal (execpt the relay) without the suit, but there should be an astrik by his name.

The former 7 medal swimming champion Spitzer I think was his name did it wearing a speedo, and he even had a moustache which is considered a no no now because of drag, so he did it without the suit and a negative. No one will ever argure his titles. Phelps’s and the other US swimmers will be argued and it could get worse if proven it did help. Maybe not illegal, but the fall out will be big. They might have the medals, but if the majority of the world know the suits helped no one will respect their achievements.

Turning away the swimsuits is out right wrong! To do so they must also turn away modern rubber running shoes, clothing, equipment, ski wax or anything for that matter that has ever propagated advances and aided in the setting of new records in all sports competitions since their conceptions. People simply need to wake up and step into the new modern world and quit trying to live in the past.