Australia’s Eamon Sullivan is set to keep his 50m and 100m freestyle world records after FINA launched a crackdown on hi-tech swimsuits.
The sport’s governing body ruled the super-suits used by flying Frenchmen Fred Bousquet and Alain Bernard need to be modified following their record-shattering feats at last month’s French titles.
FINA found the Arena “X-Glide” and “Jaked 01” suits worn by Bernard and Bousquet respectively need to be tinkered with to win approval for this year’s Rome world titles.
Bousquet (20.94 seconds) and Bernard (46.94s), who respectively smashed Sullivan’s (21.28s and 47.05s) 50m and 100m marks in Montpellier, have become the first victims in FINA’s blitz on swimsuit technology.
Australian head coach Alan Thompson, who is in Lausanne and part of the FINA Commission in charge of swimwear approval that has been meeting this week, said FINA’s decision meant it would be hard to ratify Bousquet and Bernard’s swims.
“You would have to think that a world record would need to be swum in a suit that is approved and not a suit that has been modified, that is only my personal opinion,” Thompson said.
After examining 348 swimsuits from 21 manufacturers, FINA has rejected 10 swimsuits, approved 202 swimsuits, and called for modifications to be made to the remaining 136.
Manufacturers have 30 days to resubmit the same swimsuit for approval with the necessary corrections.
Sullivan’s world records were set in the FINA-approved Speedo LZR Racer last year, the very suit that ignited the great debate in the sport as more than 100 world marks tumbled last year.
FINA is further tightening the screws on suit technology next year after trying to give manufacturers a little wriggle room this year.
Thompson said the sport would be close to a level playing field by next year.
“I think it is going to be as level as possible at the moment and it is certainly a lot more level than it has been and it is getting pretty close to the mark,” he said.
“I think the aim is to just smooth over the bumps by January 1.”
Some of those suits rejected by FINA included polyurethane, the controversial material used in the LZR Racer and considered one of the key factors in the times dropping.
Critics have claimed the compression and buoyancy from polyurethane helps boost speed for swimmers.
FINA did not state whether Bernard and Bousquet’s records would be annulled but it would be illogical for them to be approved.
FINA’s rulings could cause chaos for some of the world’s best swimmers with the Italian team sponsored by Jaked for the Rome world titles from July 26-August 2.
Australia’s leading swimmers Libby Trickett and Sullivan should have no problems as they are sponsored by Speedo while triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice is yet to decide which suit she’ll wear in the Eternal City.
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