Banned: The full-length swimsuit worn in swimming competitions including the controversial Beijing Olympics. On the first of the year the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), the governing body of competitive swimming; water polo; diving; synchronized swimming and open water swimming, ruled that competitive swimmers must discontinue the use of the rubberized suits. Now the aftermath and controversy of so many new world’s records takes place.
Last year 108 world records were broken, and nearly 30 so far this year, cites an article on Canadian radio site CBC. A second article mentions other sports associations enforce an 18-month waiting period when revolutionary technology is introduced to equipment. These suits were embraced after just three months of testing. And not all competitors had access to the suits during training and competitions. While many records were broken, and the new record holders may be happy with their standings, many swimmers will be happy the suits are no longer in use. The rubber material was difficult to put on, and often ripped even before the start of a race. Male swimmers are restricted to wear suits that go only from the waist to the knee. Women competing can wear suits from their shoulders to their knees.
New materials for swimsuits are on the way, and will hopefully be adopted without such controversy. We mentioned previously a Swiss company Eschler that’s using plasma to create new textiles suitable for swimming (no pun intended).
[via: CBC.ca Swimsuit Ban Creates Obstacles and FINA Bans High-Tech Swimsuits]