FINA follows UCI route
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The LA Times described it as ‘attempting to put the genie back in the bottle’ as 168 nations voted to support the US proposal banning the latest high-tech swimsuits.
So just like the UCI did a few years ago, another sporting federation is attempting to drag us back into the dark ages in the name of preserving the integrity of their world records. My only question is WHY?
Records by their nature are only temporary and designed to reflect the era that they were set in. One cannot even begin to compare the times set by athletes 30 years ago to the times set today and neither should they. Technology aside there have been advances in training and nutrition plus the advent of professionalism that effectively renders previous records immaterial.
So where to now? Perhaps the best would be to go back to the ‘conventional’ swimsuits of the 80’s. Briefs for men and One-piece’s for women made from permeable fabrics. At least the grey suits that make the rules will be happy although I suspect that the records they are so protective of will still continue to fall to the better prepared athletes of today.
