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Michael Phelps - Source: Reuters -
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This weekend could be truly significant for swimming.
It's nothing to do with any happening in the water- Michael Phelps is not going to participate in a million dollar winner takes all contest or anything like that. No, this weekend in Lausanne, the sport's governing body, FINA, will be meeting to discuss the vexed question of swimsuits.
More specifically they will be debating, and hopefully emerging with a decision about, the future use of the full body length, high-tech suits which have revolutionised the sport over the last year. Under scrutiny will be the material being used, the thickness of it, the shape and the size and at what age swimmers can begin competing in the latest suits.
These suits have been credited with being responsible for most of the 25 world records which were set at the Olympic Games last year in Beijing's watercube. Twenty-three of the new marks were set by swimmers wearing the Speedo LZR suit. In total, 108 world records have been set since the introduction of the controversial suits a year ago.
Opinions among swimming coaches and officials range from the group who want to leave things as they are, to those who desire to see the suits banned. Then there are those whose opinions fall somewhere in-between.
Swimming Australia, as one of the most powerful and successful organisations, has introduced its own rules regarding swimwear for its age group championships this year.
Basically they have stated that male competitors can wear one swimsuit which covers the area between hips and knees. Females can wear an open back and shoulder style which must not extend lower than the knees. No zips or fastening systems of any sort are permitted.
Please, no further advances
The Australians have openly expressed their desire for FINA to cease approval of any further swimsuit advances. They also strongly urge the banning of multiple suits which was a tactic of many Olympians. Using two or three suits made the body more streamlined and further aided buoyancy.
Like the Australians, many of America's leading coaches, including Bob Bowman who coaches Phelps, feel the latest suits hinder a youngster's development. Bowman is concerned that young swimmers will fail to master the basics if they get assistance from the swimsuits.
The North Baltimore Aquatic club at which Bowman is now chief executive, took a move last year to ban the use of the suits among youth swimmers, except in special circumstances. Those circumstances will of course include meetings at which other youth swimmers ARE using the latest suits.
Through all this is the desire to appease the swimsuit manufacturers. Most national swimming bodies rely heavily on the likes of Speedo or Arena for sponsorship, and they cannot afford to endanger that realtionships, especially at this unique time.
The manufacturers have never had it so good and they will not want any bans imposed.
Strong, persuasive argument is expected from all sides and FINA will need to be tough and unrelenting in its pursuit of the right answer. About 20 manufacturers will be present in Lausanne along with a number of coaches, athlete representatives and the FINA technical committee.
FINA will announce its decisions at a meeting in Dubai early next month so that the new laws will be introduced before the world championships in Rome in August. It would be a huge surprise if a ban on multiple suits is not imposed, along with strict guidelines on the area of the body which can be covered, but whether FINA is prepared to go much further than that is the major question.
We'll know soon.
