Ban the records at the World Championships

Yes - Sweeden do indeed have a great traditon in producing swimmers of note unlike China as a contemporary example or smaller nations that are on the improve i.e. our neighbours NZ. Of course NZ do benefit in all and sundry by being afforded state like status for some strange reason I have never quite been able to fathom. They are uniquely advantaged compared to other less developed neighbours, in gleaning great benefit and privelege by being included in Australias elite comps and having access to our resources that include coaches, Institute facilities and professional governance. and none of this is ever reciprocated. Why, just this week the NZ swimmers from the World Champs will be competing, high tech suits at the ready, in our National Short course Meet in Hobart. Is it any wonder they continue to make progress on the world stage with Oz as their geographical neighbour and their head coach an Australian while another of great note - Talbot I think, moved to Dunedin to coach just a few weeks ago. This is the concerning brain drain I alluded to earlier which could see a country of little or no swimming consequence or culture thereof, improving at our expense. We are a foolishly benevolent mob we Ozzies.

I believe the emphasis here should be to create, as much as is possible, an even playing field for all athletes involved the sport of swimming. The cost of these suits renders the sport elitist and although technology does play a big parrt in all sport at the highest level it is a dangerous message to be sending to all those in the development stage I would think. I dont believe we should encourage a culture that liberalises technology to the extent that it evolves without scrutiny but sadly the governing body of swimming cow towed to the almighty dollar and those multi nationals, who seem to be running OUR world in more ways than one. The damage is done so lets hope the sport is now able to recover from this negligence on the part of FINA and move forward in a positive way. This is a great sport and as Australians we owe it much, as it is integral to our cultural identity. We have influenced the world through it and continue to do so given the shere number of Australian expertise being courted around the planet and currently coaching or setting up programmes in China, Brazil, N.Z. the U.S. and UK to name a few; so in that sense we are custodians of what could be considered our national sport. I only wish we could stop the brain drain to other countries that seems to be ever on the increase but that is one facet of the mercenary culture of the professional era we might just have to live with.

Good idea Hoy FOR SUITS versus FOR SKINS

The swimsuits have been likened to a natural progression in technology, citing examples of graphite v wooden raquets in tennis, or graphite v wooden shafts in golf.The trouble with the analogy is Roger Federer did not win Wimbledon because he served the fastest, and Tiger Woods did not win the Masters by finishing in record time.

I agree with AndyRoo. I think a lot of people complained about them. I certainly didn't like them from the start. THinking back though, Thorpie wore one of these in 2000 when he cleaned up in Sydney. Was it made of this new material? And is that the suit in which he broke the 400m record?

Not true, I dont think the suits have been popular with the Australian public since day one. I know I have never liked them (I am talking about all the full body suits incl Speedo). It was the cause of much debate on TV when they were introduced. And by much debate I mean by swimming standards.

Apologies for getting off-topic, but perhaps Sweden's greatest swimmer, apart from Borg, was Gunnar Larrson, who won gold in both the 200m IM & 400m IM at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Anders Holmertz didn't win gold but picked up successive silver medals in the 4x200m freestyle relay in 1992 & 96. He also picked up an individual silver in the 200m free & bronze in 400m free at the 1992 Olympics. In 2000 at Sydney, Lars Frolander caused a boilover in the mens 100m butterfly, relegating Aussies Klim & Heugill to the minor medals. As mentioned by James, Teresa Alshammar picked up silver in both the 50m & 100m freestyles (behind de Bruin) & also a bronze in the womens 4x100m freestyle relay. But Colin, you're right, Sweden haven't done much in the past two Olympics (2004 & 08).

How about this for an idea: With the much lauded sport of shearing, they have blade record, and machine record. Swimsuit record, and skin record?

Hoy - Therese Alshammar is a very recent Swedish swimming champ - sprint freestyler from memory. They all have access to the suits, which makes the races fair. However, the records should not stand, or should have an asterisk next to the old one. If they ban the suits because they improve performance so much, the records should NOT stand for the same reason. It's as simple as that.

Well there you go Sheek. Thanks very much for the Swede information. Can't say I have heard much of Swedish swimmers recently though. It might just be me only turning the swimming on when something is on, but I always feel blindsided by nations who turn up and have swimmers who win.

"Sweden have a long swimming tradition, almost as long as ours, if not as prolific." I'm not denying that, I was responding to something someone had said earlier contesting that view, saying that, whatever her nationality, she still has talent, but perhaps it didn't come out that way. Great Britain has a very poor history in swimming, but atm, we have Rebecca Adlington and Jo Jackson in the section of world class, and Gemma Spofforth in with a chance of a gold tomorrow. "FINA have stated they will not be able to use the suits after the World Championships, doesn’t this make the current World Championships a joke?" Yes, it does, but if the suits really does make a two second difference then Rebecca Adlington could have gone 3:58 for the 400m freestyle. However, since 99% of the swimmers are using them, the swimmer who is the fittest and just the best in general, will still win.

Anyway, let's go back to the high-cut, one-piece swimsuit for women!

FINA have stated they will not be able to use the suits after the World Championships, doesn't this make the current World Championships a joke? Even the swimmers feel dirty about using them, here's a quote from PAUL BIEDERMANN who broke Ian Thorpe's WR ‘‘I honestly expected someone to break the world record here, I never thought it would be me,’’ he said. ‘‘Ian Thorpe was a swimming idol to me. I’m really proud to take his world record. I feel really honoured about it. Even if I did beat one of his world records, he is still a legend. ‘‘I think the suit is problematic. I think the suits make us swim really fast. I honestly think it was worth about two seconds in this race. I really, really hope next year we can go back to the normal one because it’s important for the sport. I think the suits destroy a little bit of the real sport. It’s not any more about technique. ‘‘I really believe all the new suits should be banned.’’

Colin N, Sweden have a long swimming tradition, almost as long as ours, if not as prolific. At the 1924 & 28 Olympics, our own Boy Charlton did battle with the great Swedish swimmer Arne Borg over 400m & 1500m freestyle. And some other guy called Johnny Weismuller (original Tarzan). In 1924 Weismuller won the 400m from Borg & Charlton. In the 1500m Charlton beat Borg & fellow Aussie Frank Beaurepaire. In 1928 Argentine Alberto Zorilla beat Charlton & Borg in the 400m. In the 1500m Borg won his gold medal from Charlton & Buster Crabbe (another Tarzan, plus Buck Rogers & Flash Gordon). Both Borg & Charlton finished with equal medal hauls - one gold, two silver, one bronze. There have been other Swedish Olympic swimming gold medal winners down the years. They are usually a top 10 swimming nation in overall performances.

Funny how Australian competitiors, reporters and supporters weren't screaming foul last year when they were heading to the Olympics with the new Speedo suit that not everyone had access to ....

"It is sad, but I always get suspicious when countries without a swimming background start smashing records. Like the Swedish (?) swimmer yesterday! Where did that come from?" But, it's not like she was the only one in her race to wear that suit. She's obviously very talented, but with these suits, it just makes a mockery of the times. It's interesting to note that in the 400m freestyle, Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington used the older suits and still came third and I believe beat the old world record. How much faster would she have gone with that suit?

Performance enhancing suits. Performance enhancing drugs. Monster golf clubs. Degrees of loft on irons. All these enhance performance and the debate will rage. It is not enough anymore to rely on just natural ability. Cyclists and cricketers are wearing hitech clothing,also presumably,to cut down on drag and also for comfort. The old loose shirts and trousers would have slowed Larwood and Lindwall. The shoes are lighter and sports equipment generally is user friendly. So comparing different eras does not make sense and I for one would accept that we live in a different age and perceptions and values change. Rules have been modified in many sports to meet the challenges posed by technology and equipment. The negatives are that the latest equipment and apparel cost a fortune and are beyond the average budget. So you have the haves and have nots. But sport is no different to the rest of society and more often than not accurately reflects it. The elite swimmer will not worry one way or the other. If everyone is wearing the same suit the swimmer with the better ability and technique will prevail . If Ian Thorpe had been swimming today with the latest suit the 200 FS record would probably be 1.35. Swimmers breaking records at this World Championship admit the suits give them a tremendous advantage. It is not the fault of the swimmer but the governing body. FINA have seen it is not right and are going back to conventional suits from 2010. The records will stand with an asterisk. This will only cause more debate. The more sensible approach would be to disregard all world records post Beijing.

Its good to see the whole suit issue being decided on, but the problem with relation to the records is where do we stop? Should we ban the records from the 2008 Olympics for those that had the speedo suits? Should we ban Ian Thorpe's (now old) 2000 Olympics 400m record because he had a full length suit? The records from the 2009 championships must stand, eventually they will be broken.

It is sad, but I always get suspicious when countries without a swimming background start smashing records. Like the Swedish (?) swimmer yesterday! Where did that come from? I know as the profile grows, so to does each countries willingness to put in the effort to swim and become great at it, but some countries are just not noted swimmers, and some have been tarnished before. Due to history, I always get sus about German, Chinese, and Irish swimmers and that makes me sad. Onto the topic of these suits, it has gone too far now. It should just be the old school DTs or one piece, but I think they have banned full length only is it? So many records set pre-suit times, when swimming was genuine swimming, have now gone, and it is possible the new records won't ever be bettered.