Wahts' the deal with the new swim suits at the Olympics and is it fair?

Question

Okay, so maybe I have not been paying much attention to professional swim attire in recent years, but this is the first time I have noticed the new full-body swim suits for both men and women. What is the purpose? I head somewhere that it makes them more aerodynamic in the water (i.e. able to swim faster). Is this true? And if so, is that fair to older competitors like Mark Spitz who did not have the advantage of all this modern technology in swim wear and is now having all his record broken?

Answer 1

ya...and at the Winter Games in 2010...we'll make them use wood skates!

Answer 2

There are many things that Mark Spitz didn't have access to. State of the art training facilities, teams of coaches and sports psychologists, new training techniques and pools designed to ensure an athlete can get better times. That's what makes this new competition so great...if we were still stuck in the dark ages what fun would that be?

Answer 3

I would like to see how fast Mark Spitz would be if he was shaved down, swam in a fast pool like this one, and wore one of he fancy suits like these Speedo LZR which NASA has even invested time into. I believe Mark Spitz didn't even wear a cap and had a mustache when he swam. If anyone did that today they would be totally out of the loop.  

Answer 4

It's fair as long as every athlete has access to the technology.  

Answer 5

Those swimsuits are new this year.Michael Phelps did the debut of themfor speedo. They had 3 research teams and NASA make these suits. You can buy them from speedo.com. This suit is called the LZR RACER and starts at 550.00.

**World's fastest swimsuit - result of most extensive performance research and development in swimwear history.

**World's first fully bonded bodysuit. Full-length bonded seams ultrasonically welded together creates low profile silhouette and reduces skin friction drag.

**Cut from unique three piece 3D pattern to fit body shape.

**Engineered to create a Hydro Form Compression System. Internal core stabilizer supports and holds swimmer maintaining a good body position in water. Assists in achieving "high" streamlined form for faster performance.

**Made from Speedo's own LZR Pulse material - developed especially for Speedo Fastskin FS-PRO suit.

**World's lightest woven swim fabric. Highly compressive, water-repellent, chlorine resistant, and fast drying.

**Features LZR panels, an ultra-thin PU membrane precision cut by laser into panels then embedded into base of the fabric at strategic points to create "Hydro Form Compression." Optimum streamlined shape and drag reduction.

**Ultra low profile zip bonded into suit and hidden inside to maintain smooth surface shape

Answer 6

well, now that we have better science and technology to support and make better the sport of swimming, it IS fair! you can't blame or give all the credit of winning and breaking records to the swimsuits anyway!

btw, the suits do make the swimmer more aerodynamic, so they can cut through the water very easily!

Answer 7

Technological advances are what make the world keep getting better and better.  Its not like the swimsuit has a motor that is moving the swimmer.  The swimmer still has to do all the work.  

Personally, I think part of the effect is psychological.  Swimmers know that the swimsuit should make them faster, so that psychs them up to swim faster.  

At first only certain countries had access to the suit and they said that wasn't fair (which it wasn't), so now I believe everyone has the option to use it, but some have sponsorships from other companies (i.e. Nike) and choose not to break their agreements (which is commendable).  As long as everyone has the option to use it, I think it is completely fair.  Who knows what they'll come up with next!

Answer 8

So long as the competitors all have access to the same equipment in the same designed pool just say to your self, " This is now. That was then." All are competing with one another under similar conditions.  Records are all made to be broken with better training techniques , stronger coaching and better athletes. You are not suggesting that we should all be in the age of the Model T and never get to the Cobra or the Corvette ?

Answer 9

it is cheating with "technology" but legal.

Newer suits have lower resistance than skin so it will increase speed.

It applies to any competitions that include "gears".  It always is and always will be.

Answer 10

I don't think these new suits are fair at all. The Olympics are supposed to be based on your own physical abilities and if you wear a suit that helps you, it should be treated like taking steroids. The Olympians who wear these suits say it makes them feel more confident and smoother in water. If it was up to me, I would make the Olympians wear the only clothing needed.

Answer 11

I think they should design a swimsuit, that will do all the work for you, ie. EVEN SWIM FOR YOU,  that way you can sit on the bench and telepathically guide the suit. Heck, the swimsuit can even pass the doping test for you.....I think. Look at all the possibilities, work smart, not hard.