105th World Record Falls Amid Swimsuit Technology Fears...

At the European Championships, Italy's Federica Pellegrini eclipsed the 104th world record of the year, blasting the 200 short course meters freestyle world mark with a 1:51:85...

Here's a glance back at Leveaux's 100 free world record, the milestone 100th of the year. (NOTE: This video's covered by English commentary.)

And American Peter Marshall's world record in the short course meters 100 back was clipped by Russian, Stanislav Donets. His 49:32 cut Marshall's mark by three tenths, a huge margin for a 100 meter sprint. 

Stanislav's swim was, dare I say, the mind-numbing 105th world record of the year.

I love world records. I love the attention they bring. Between Michael Phelps' historic Beijing haul and the 100 plus world records, swimming has exploded onto the world stage!

It is realistic? Or is all one big cheat! Is it fair to the history of the sport, to our past heroes who rarely saw world marks achieved?

Swimming governing bodies and high-profile coaches are demanding a roll-back on the technology. Many have gone public, like Aussie Head Coach Alan Thompson, and many have whispered about it on deck, shaking their heads as they almost seethed in disgust. I witnessed it as recently as Short Course National Championships in Atlanta. One coach of a world-class swimmer actually cursed: 

"F--- these d--- suits. They're screwing over our sport." 

Until I heard that coach curse, a coach I've known for over 25 years, I didn't really want to consider the downside of 21st century swimsuit technology. I've kept my head in the sand, like an ostrich, fearful of the obvious.

Since short course Nationals in Atlanta, I've considered this topic nonstop. I hate to say it, but I feel swimming's damned if you do and damned if you don't...though I seriously hope not.

The upside of suit technology is tremendous: More world records every year, and media, and money. The downside is swimming's integrity: Can anyone take an athlete seriously if he or she drops so much time annually? Will world records become meaningless? Will they lose their fan-currency? 

They will in time. It's inevitable. And if we continue on this current path, it might become painful... 

I absolutely love dark chocolate, 86% pure, but if I eat it all day long (which I've done a time or two), I suffer mind-crunching headaches, serious brain-pain. The result of my bingeing is always the same: I avoid dark chocolates until I forget about my love for them, and then the cycle starts again.  

The Olympic cycle is much the same for the world beyond the swimming family. They binge on us, and often grow sick. Add our world record tear to the mix, and we might be adding fuel to this cyclical fire. I hope not, but I fear it a lot... I'd like to hear if anyone else feels the same? 

There's more on the downside, and as a former Olympian who lived off of a swimwear contract (Speedo), it scares me to death. Swimsuit manufacturers are threatening to pull out of the high-tech swimsuit race, or have already done so, to a degree.

Adidas is threatening to pull out. Nike Swim is taking a "let see" position. And TYR? They've been trying for years, and succeeding, but even they've called "uncle" in the wake the Speedo juggernaut, opting for litigation.

For a competitive swimsuit market, we need, well, competition. Speedo can not be the only brand in mix, and I say this knowing that Speedo has been exceptionally good to swimming. For some people, Speedo, in the aquatic world, is almost a religion. Speaking out is a sin...although I don't really buy into that assumption. I believe competition is also in Speedo's best interest. 

Forget the last point for a moment. Consider the impact a one-suit industry would have on world-class swimmers; fewer endorsement contracts, loss of much-need subsistence monies, talent being forced to retire, a weaker Olympic swimming team. 

Back to Speedo's best interest: Competition drives companies. It focuses their energies. They're forced to produce better products. Ultimately, they must create and hone a sustainable corporate model.

Something must be done! FINA must set limits on suit technology!

If they don't, I'm starting a new swimwear company, and selling a super-slick product. I'll shrink-wrap swimmers in cellophane, and watch them slide on to multi-world record performances while I make millions of dollars. 

****A big thanks to Stanford Swimming Alum, Rich Roll, for pointing out Craig Lord's November 30th article. It was eye-opening as well as frightening. I am thankful for guys like Rich Roll, who are a part of my social-swimming network******

Comments

[Jennie]

I'm not knowledgeable enough about competitive swimming to have even a well educated opinion about this topic. I pose the question though to those that do, is there a risk of this becoming a similar situation to baseball's grand summer of 1998? The one where Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire made us forget about labor contracts, strikes and bad behavior by professional athletes. We all marvelled at their amazing accomplishments at the time, but looking back knowing what we know now about steroids and other performance enhancers, it just makes many of us fans feel sad and empty.

[goldmedalmel]

Chris, I think technology is exciting, but not at the cost of fairness... Feels like we're crossing the line in "doping" or "tech doping" as many high-profiles coaches have said....

[Chris]

You article reminds me of my bobsled days where the differentiators after driver skills and strenth/speed of your push studs are sled design and runners. I've always been a proponent of everyone using the same equipment to level the playing field however in that sport it is problematic. They provide the guideline and your equipment is inspected to ensure that you fall within those guidelines. In swimming it appears these suits have gone far beyond the guidelines that your sport governing bodies could have ever imagined and for the sake of sport (evening the playing field/lowering the economic/technological barrier to entry) limitations should be established.

[Mel Stewart]

Chuck, "woulda, coulda, shoulda" seemed to dominate a lot of athletes' minds between Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games, and after. I know. I've hear them air their "woulda, coulda(s)...."

[Chuck]

While I like the attention that falling records brings to swimming, and agree with you on the important role of some of the suit manufacturers, it seems to be getting to a point where it's going to be difficult to distinguish the better swimmer from the better-financed or better-equipped swimmer. While it might be good for the sport, I can't see how bringing that question into play is good for the athletes. All I see is a door opening to woulda, coulda, shoulda second guessing on wardrobe choices instead of acknowledgment that the better swimmer won the race.

[Mel Stewart]

Bianca, if I start a cellphane swimwear company, you're hired!

[Mel Stewart]

Thanks, JP! I'm checking your link now....

[JP]

I have been hearing about the suits on deck at age group meets as well. Collected some interesting articles and blog posts here:

http://ix3sports.com/index.php?option=com_mojo&Itemid=46&p=338

Agree with Mel on FINA indecision. The longer they wait the more this will become a problem.

[Bianca]

You can hire me to shrink-wrap all the male swimmers in cellophane!!! I will work for cheat money! ahahahaha

side note: I love seeing WR being broken, but I I agree that their should be some limitations on the suit technology. I dont think we are going long standing records anymore.