Banned Swim Suits!
May
21Banned Swim Suits!
Posted by Kevin Doak on Thursday at: 12:15pm (May 21st, 2009)
Finally, they're banning some suits! A recent ruling at FINA (The Governing body of Swimming) has determined 10 popular suits are banned because of either thickness, buoyancy and water resistance. The LZR, which has been worn for 108 (and counting) world records is NOT banned. I haven't seen the entire banned list, but here is what I can find:
http://www.fina.org/project/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2389&Itemid=9
FINA has already ruled that next year's suits can have a maximum of 50% non-permeable material to be legal. That will eliminate a generation of polyurethane suits used in recent weeks to set world-record times. FINA also did not state whether the records set by Bernard and Bousquet using the polyurethane swimsuits, during the French Championships last month in Montpellier, would be annulled.
A FINA statement regarding the banned suits that reads: "They don't fulfill the requirement stating that 'swimsuit material shall not be constructed to or include elements/systems which create air/water trapping effects during use'."
The whole drama is really interesting. It puts swimming in the news, but not for very good reasons in my opinion. Makes me feel bad for all those swimmers who just bought BlueSeventy suits this past season. The suit is a popular, and cheaper alternative to the Speedo LZR suit. I would think that the FINA ruling will filter down to USA Swimming as well as USMS (United States Masters Swimming).
- BlueSeventy suit, which was worn for a number of short course world records was banned.
- The Jaked 01 model which Frederick Bousquet wore as he broke the Men's 50 Free WR at 20.94 was banned.
- The "X-Glide" by Arena was also banned. Alain Bernard just wore one to defeat Michael Phelps in the 100 Freestyle and set a new 100m world record of 46.94.
http://www.fina.org/project/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2389&Itemid=9
FINA has already ruled that next year's suits can have a maximum of 50% non-permeable material to be legal. That will eliminate a generation of polyurethane suits used in recent weeks to set world-record times. FINA also did not state whether the records set by Bernard and Bousquet using the polyurethane swimsuits, during the French Championships last month in Montpellier, would be annulled.
A FINA statement regarding the banned suits that reads: "They don't fulfill the requirement stating that 'swimsuit material shall not be constructed to or include elements/systems which create air/water trapping effects during use'."
The whole drama is really interesting. It puts swimming in the news, but not for very good reasons in my opinion. Makes me feel bad for all those swimmers who just bought BlueSeventy suits this past season. The suit is a popular, and cheaper alternative to the Speedo LZR suit. I would think that the FINA ruling will filter down to USA Swimming as well as USMS (United States Masters Swimming).