Coming soon — new information on swimsuits!

I keep getting inquiries about the 2010 swim suits, but I’m not an expert and have as many questions as the next person. So I’ve decided to resort to my “journalism” days and do some old-fashioned phone interviews of a few experts. I’m gathering my notes and promise to write up the information in the next week. Stay tuned, and if you don’t already subscribe to my site, do so in the right hand corner.

FINA Bans Tech Suits for 2010

I’ve written so much about the whole tech suit thing here that I felt obligated to update my site with this information. But, I’m going to be lazy and simply post some links for you.

Here’s one article.

And here’s another.

My daughter’s Blueseventy is a year old, so I feel like she’s gotten our money’s worth out of it. But I really feel for the people who have dropped hundreds of dollars in the last few months. How frustrating!

Nike Swimsuits “Approved” by USA Swimming

And the beat goes on — the beat regarding FINA and Swimsuits and Rules, Oh My! Only now, there seem to be considerable “waves” regarding Nike swimsuits — at least in the Ozark LSC. Thankfully, one parent from Ozark decided to go straight to the source — Bruce W. Stratton, chairman of the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee. And she recieved an email written response that makes it CRYSTAL CLEAR that Nike Hydra and Nike Swift knee and leg suits ARE ALLOWED in the pool in USA Swimming competitions.

Here is the parent’s email to Mr. Stratton and Mr. Sheehan:

Mr. Sheehan & Mr. Stratton,

I realize you both have probably been inundated by e-mails regarding the swimsuit issue over the past month, and I am simply a parent, but I must address a local issue that has been out of control (Ozark LSC).  I will pass on the information to our authorities regardless of your answer (and give up my quest if it turns out I am incorrect), but I must pursue what I believe to be an injustice being served to our “in-between” local swimmers (those 13 and over who are not necessarily national level).

Since the initial FINA list came out in May and, subsequently the USA Swimming ruling on June 1, our local USA Swimming officials have been pulling 13 and over swimmers out of their events and heats when they are seen wearing the old model Nike Hydra and Swift suits that extend past their hips (if they are girls) and past their knees (if they are boys).  I have tried to make an argument that the old model textile Nike suits, although not on the original list and now not the new FINA approved suit list, would be covered by the FINA release on June 5th regarding old model textile suits that were previously approved but not necessarily submitted for re-approval because they do not fall into the category of high tech suit.

We are a Nike team and although many publications have been presented to the local Officials Committee in argument against their actions (from FINA, from Mr. Sheehan, from Nike), it is falling on deaf ears.  We have many families of those older, yet not elite level, swimmers who are being told they have useless suits leaving them angry and/or in a financial hardship to purchase “approved” swimwear.

 If either of you can at all give some written direction before our next local meet this weekend (beginning June 26), which I may present to the local Officials Chair (Ozark), that she can in turn use to direct our officials, I would greatly appreciate it.

And here is Mr. Stratton’s response, which again makes it clear that USA Swimming IS allowing these suits to be worn in competition:

FINA issued an updated list on June 22, 2009, but it also does not include any Nike suits.  However, in a statement issued by FINA on June 5, 2009, it stated that suits approved prior to 2009 and made of full textile material such as lycra or nylon are acceptable as long as they don’t have sleeves and that any double layers are stuck together.  This would presumably include the Nike suits to which you are referring and they should therefore be acceptable.  There will be a formal announcement to this effect by the Rules Committee very shortly.  If you need further clarification, please let me know.

Bruce

Bruce W. Stratton

Chairman, Rules & Regulations Committee

398 S. 9th Street, Suite 290

Boise, ID  83702

Personally, I just about can’t believe there was EVER a question by ANYONE — parent, swimmer, or official – as to whether these Nike suits were allowed in competition. But I’m very glad the USA Swimming Rules Committee is going to clear this up via a formal annoucement soon. I hope that will fix the problem for any swimmers competing this weekend.

Blueseventy Makes a Splashback

Blueseventy, among others, won a victory last Friday when FINA added the the company’s tech suits to its list of approved suits for swimming competition. Here is the statement issued by FINA. And hereis the statement issued by Blueseventy.

I don’t know how many tech suits that had been on the “need to be modified” list made it onto the approved list as a result of FINA’s June 19 ruling and I don’t have time to do a list-by-list comparison right now. But I’m very happy Blueseventy managed to make the cut because my daughter and many of her teammates own one.

The whole tech suit issue is very controversial, and I’ve written about that controversy here and here and here. To further complicate things, FINA didn’t address ALL swimsuits on their list, and some companies, such as Nike, didn’t submit their suits for approval because the suits aren’t technical suits and therefore, the company didn’t think they needed approval.  I wrote about that problem, and USA Swimming’s response, here.  So, people who have purchased Nike Swift knee and leg suits, and Nike Hydra knee and leg suits may still be wondering if those swimsuits are allowed in competition this summer.

It’s complicated. And if I didn’t already own a Blueseventy or a LZR or a Jaked or one of the other technical suits, I don’t know if I’d go buy one before 2010.  The rumor mill is still alive and well in the swimming community, and some say all tech suits will be banned in 2010.

Murky Waters Regarding Tech Suits

UPDATE 6/1/09: More here.

It’s all so confusing. I keep sitting down to right about these tech suits — which ones are banned, which ones need to be modified, what that means for upcoming swim meets, etc. But I read news articles and press releases and blog posts  and just get more confused.

If you own a Blueseventy, you might want to keep an eye on the company’s blog. It seems to be a good source of information.

This article does a good job describing that “chaos reigns” when it comes to decisions about the tech suits.

I am of the opinion that if the Blueseventy Nero Comp was made by Speedo – and thus called the Speedo Nero Comp – the suit would have been approved by FINA just like the Speedo LZR was approved. You’ve never heard of the USA Blueseventy Swimming Championships, or the Blueseventy International Age Group Meet. But if you’re a member of the swim community, you’ve certainly heard of the Speedo Swimming Championships or the Speedo International Age Group Meet. It’s all about influence and money. Blueseventy hasn’t been paying to play long enough, I guess.

I’m anxious to see how it plays out, but I’m not holding my breath. I think it will be a long time before anyone is able to see clearly in these murky waters.