Why do male swimmers not wear the full suit in all events?

Question

Why do male swimmers not wear the full suit in all events?

Answer 1

Why should they?

Answer 2

It really depends on the swimmer and what they feel most comfortable in. But you'll notice that it also depends on the stroke. Different strokes require the body to move in different ways, and so different parts of the body need to be free to move.

However, it really boils down to personal preference.  

Answer 3

Overall most guys (and girls) choose the type of suit they wear based on what feels the best to them. Of course there are exceptions, though. Some feel that suits that go down to the ankles are not good for breaststroke events, others feel that in the freestyle events you should only wear the full length suits. Like I said, it is mainly the preference of each individual swimmer. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

The full suit has the advantage of reducing drag and allows any swimmer to go faster, but as it is very tight-fitting it poses a risk of malfunction. So it is really a personal choice of practicality and risk-taking. Fortunately for men, it has not been made compulsory.