FINA Cracking Down on Swimsuit Technology

Was it the swimmers or the swimsuits? After a tidal wave of 108 world records spurred controversy over who - or what -- should get the credit, FINA aims to keep technology from taking over the sport.

The international governing body is taking the first strokes toward increasing restrictions on swimwear development in hopes of producing suits that will maximize performance without enhancing it.

Nearly a year to the day after the introduction of the revolutionary Speedo LZR Racer, FINA representatives -- including seven members of the FINA Bureau and Olympic superstars Alexander Popov and Janet Evans -- met with 16 swimwear manufacturers for over three hours Friday in Lausanne. 

The group's recommendations won't turn back the clock, but will prevent future designs or construction that would increase buoyancy or flotation. The FINA Bureau will consider amendments to the current "FINA Requirements for Swimwear Approval" during its meetings March 12-14 in Dubai.

"My understanding is, politically we can't have another year with 108 world records," Mel Stewart, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 1992 and columnist for www.swimnetwork.com, told Around the Rings. "It almost makes world records meaningless. What does it mean to be a champion? Wait another season to get the new technology and you'll drop more time. That was a huge concern." 

While declining to discuss specific outcomes, Dale Neuburger, the FINA Bureau liaison to the Technical Swimming Commission, said the tone of the meeting was optimistic.

"There was a spirit of real cooperation between the swimsuit manufacturers and representatives of FINA," he told ATR from Lausanne. "It was very encouraging for the sport. Also, the discussion was decidedly focused on the future as opposed to the past."

If approved, some of the restrictions could go into effect for the upcoming World Championships from July 18-Aug. 2 in Rome.

Swimmers will no longer be able to wear suits with sleeves, although they will still be allowed to wear them to the ankles. USA Swimming had hoped to cut the suits off at the knees. More material covering the body provides less drag and is faster in the water than skin.

Australian great Ian Thorpe wore suits that went from his wrists to his ankles at the 2004 Olympics, but few athletes used sleeves at the Beijing Games. 

Also in Rome, athletes will be limited to wearing one swimsuit. Some swimmers had become accustomed to wearing two or three in competition to compress their core and add buoyancy.

Swimsuit material must have a maximum thickness of 1 mm (0.04 inches) and must follow the body shape. The swimsuit cannot create air-trapping effects.

"There were rumors of companies trying to come into the market and create air bubbles in suits," Stewart said.

The swimsuit shall not have a buoyancy effect of more than 1 Newton (100 g) and cannot provide external stimulation or influence of any form (e.g. pain reduction, chemical/medical substance release, electro-stimulation).

Swimsuits cannot be customized for individual swimmers, apart from sizing.

Swimwear manufacturers will be able to submit swimsuits for approval until March 31, 2009.

Most of the material in existing swimsuits is expected to meet the requirements. FINA was cognizant of manufacturers' inventory in not proposing drastic changes this year. 

Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, FINA will look at limiting the use of non-permeable material and at an Australian proposal to abolish zippers, which play a role in compression.

One rationale for eliminating sleeves was the zipper factor: without a zipper, it would be virtually impossible to get into a suit with sleeves.

Stewart said the current high-tech suits help some swimmers more than others because of the way they compress the body.

"If you're someone who carries a little bit of weight, or if you were a woman and had curves, this suit was fantastic," said Stewart, who competed in the era of tiny swimsuits. "Part of it is body position in the water, and it just makes you more hydrodynamic."

Athletes don't have to work as hard on strengthening their core if they wear the suits. Compression particularly helps in the last quarter of a race -- for example the last 50 in a 200-meter race -- by keeping a tiring athlete from sagging in the water.

Stewart said Michael Phelps, who won an unprecedented eight gold medals in Beijing, wore only one suit at a time in competition, a Speedo, and that "he probably benefitted less from this suit than others."

Swimmers unable to acquire the Speedo LZR because of sponsorship deals, lack of proper fit or finances (although Speedo made the suit available at a good price) have felt at a disadvantage. TYR used similar technology in its Tracer Rise.

"My only concern is that there's a level playing field, and we have a vibrant market so other manufacturers aren't going to leave," Stewart said. "As much as I like the LZR Racer, I do think it's important we have a market where others are competitive. If not, we're in trouble."

FINA will establish its own independent control/testing program, with scientific testing conducted by a team led by Professor Jan-Anders Manson from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Technology.

While FINA still wants to encourage innovation, it doesn't want changes leading to what some have called "technological doping."

"With these amendments, FINA shows that it continues to monitor the evolution of the sport's equipment with the main objective of keeping the integrity of sport," FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui said. "While we need to remain open to evolution, the most important factors must be the athletes' preparation and physical condition on achieving their performances."

FINA has said it hoped these decisions would be "globally accepted and fully understandable by the Swimming worldwide community."

Written by Karen Rosen.