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Australian swim star Libby Trickett says she’s frustrated by the controversy over new-age swimsuits, believing athletes should just swim in what they feel comfortable with.
Spiro Zavos: ‘Ban speedy swimsuits’
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German sprinter Britta Steffen, one of Trickett’s main rivals for the Beijing Olympics, yesterday compared swimming to Formula One, suggesting people may ask who has the best swim suit in the same way they ask which driver has the best car.
Steffen said she’d prefer all swimmers to wear normal bathing suits so there could be no doubt over who was best.
Trickett today dismissed the controversy over the Speedo LZR Racer suit, which she will wear at the Games in August, and has been worn by many world record breakers since its release in February this year.
“At the end of the day the equipment doesn’t make the person a better swimmer,” the 23-year-old Queenslander said.
“An average swimmer is not going to break a world record in a LZR Racer.”
And the gold medal hopeful said she’s not bothered Steffen will be wearing a rival Adidas bodysuit when they meet in Beijing.
“I want her to be as comfortable and confident as possible because that means she is going to swim her best, which is going to get the best out of me,” Trickett said.
“At the end of the day it’s what people are comfortable in.
“Some people are comfortable in Adidas, some people are comfortable in Speedo, and to make it equal you want everyone to be comfortable. I think that’s what makes an equal playing ground.”
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has approved the Speedo suits, insisting they do not give swimmers an unfair advantage.
Meanwhile, Trickett said she is pleased with her Olympic preparations, and said she was aiming to better the world marks she set at the Australian trials in March.
“I’ve been really, really happy with my preparation,” she said.
I’d like to go personal best times, I think any athlete would like to go a personal best time. I’m definitely not looking to go backwards, I’d like to go where I was at if not faster than where I was at at trials.”
Trickett broke both the 50m and 100m freestyle world records at the trials.