Over the last week if not year tons of stories have hit the internet regarding the latest swim tech suits that all started with the Speedo LZR. With a year of great swims at both the Olympics and FINA / ARENA World Cup in which over 100 world records were
smashed FINA and critics are taking a look at these tech suits. Some have suggested a roll back to pre-2008 swim suits and to place an aserisk next to those records broken by swimmers wearing said swim tech suits. The only thing that one can be certain about is that no one will walk away happy in February when FINA sends forth it's new swim tech suit rules. Speedo, Blueseventy and other swim suit makers may walk away with nothing after spending millions in research and development on these suits. Swimmers who broke records in these suits will forever be marked with an asterisk next to said records just like those who used illegal dopping drugs. Millions more will be left holding expensive swim suits that are worthless for competitive swimming.
The only winner that I can see in this whole mess is Speedo. If the LZR suit isn't all out banned they still will have other body styles to sell unlike other smaller swim suit makers. Already we have seen Nike among other swim suit companies leave the competitve tech suit battle and come February we are sure to see more leave. No matter what FINA decides when they meet will leave a lingering asterisk around the sport for years to come. Even Michael Phelps 8 Olympic Golds will have 8 Golden Asterisks.
