Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sex / Sports Thank You, FINA, Thank You
Posted by Dan Savage on Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 12:35 PM
NYT:
In an effort to clean up its sport, the international governing body of swimming will require its athletes to show more skin. By an overwhelming vote Friday at its general congress, FINA officials decided to ban the high-tech swimsuits that have been likened to doping on a hanger.
I'm with Michael Phelps:
“I like it,” Phelps said. “I think it’s going to be good.”
Photo via Speedo Junkie.
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1
Yay!! Great news for all speedo fans. The smaller the better. Those fancy high tech suits were no fun at all.
3
There's a girl in there?...
Actually, with those compression suits, if you photoshopped a dude's head on her, she could pass. And sadly, vice versa, for the guys.
Actually, with those compression suits, if you photoshopped a dude's head on her, she could pass. And sadly, vice versa, for the guys.
4
Yeah, and while we're at it, let's make the guys in the Tour de France ride bikes that were made in 1950. Because technology = bad, you know.
5
Now all we have to do is convince NBC Sports that it isn't pornography to show Olympic swimmers below the waist. Really, it isn't!
I swear, the NBC coverage of the Beijing swimming events looked like it was directed by Victorian censors.
I swear, the NBC coverage of the Beijing swimming events looked like it was directed by Victorian censors.
6
From an eye candy perspective, traditional suits wins out. I don't see the harm in the techno. compression suits, provided every team has the option to wear them.
7
@4 This is one of those cases where the technology provides advantages that are not appropriate to the competition.
The competition should remain that of who swims fastest, not who is the best equipped.
It is now up to the swimmers to EVOLVE a more hydrodynamic skin and physique.
Dolphins did it. That shows dedication.
The competition should remain that of who swims fastest, not who is the best equipped.
It is now up to the swimmers to EVOLVE a more hydrodynamic skin and physique.
Dolphins did it. That shows dedication.
9
Probably directed by the type of guys (I think almost all sports directors are guys) who think the world can be divided into four things, Pope: beer, pussy, sports, and everything else.
10
Am I the only sad nerd that thought that first picture looked like a promo pic from "Smallville"? Sorry, it is Comic Con weekend. I'll go cry in the basement again with my smelly comics.
13
Phelps will never break as many Olympic records (or his records) again without the suit.
The suit doesn't make him or them a magical swimmer, but it in fact skims time off of their races and thus put them over the minuscule threshold of breaking/shattering other seemingly impossible times.
Phelps is still a great athlete, but he is probably not exactly jazzed about it.
The suit doesn't make him or them a magical swimmer, but it in fact skims time off of their races and thus put them over the minuscule threshold of breaking/shattering other seemingly impossible times.
Phelps is still a great athlete, but he is probably not exactly jazzed about it.
14
This makes me so happy! Soooo happy! More than makes up for my disappointment in the NBA's mile-long shorts policy.
16
@13 But isn't that a wash since his competitors all wore the suits too? It's not like he some special advantage.
17
He has the advantage of being an incredible athlete, which in and of itself is enough for him to win. But to *break the records*, that needed the suit on TOP of his abilities.
His competitors had the suit too, and he still beat them because he is who he is.
I'm referring here to the record breaking.
This change will bring everyone's times back down to the point where they aren't breaking records left and right
His competitors had the suit too, and he still beat them because he is who he is.
I'm referring here to the record breaking.
This change will bring everyone's times back down to the point where they aren't breaking records left and right
20
Michael Phelps has freakishly long arms. I'm sure he can still out swim his competitors. His wingspan was what 6'3"? That's longer than his height. Normal people's wingspan is equal to his height.
And about this swim suit brouhaha:
Yippee!
And about this swim suit brouhaha:
Yippee!
21
I've read that generally people range from 100% to 120% of their height when it comes to arm span. My arm span is bigger than my height.
As for the suit, it does really only make a difference when it comes to world records, not competitions. What I wonder is whether they will strike Phelps' Olympic records from the charts or not - it would seem silly to keep them if they were performed in illegal equipment.
As for the suit, it does really only make a difference when it comes to world records, not competitions. What I wonder is whether they will strike Phelps' Olympic records from the charts or not - it would seem silly to keep them if they were performed in illegal equipment.
22
Part of the fairness issue is the cost, or so I heard on NPR. $600 a suit--and usually need one more than once a year.
23
All competitive events have potential "cheats." Even music orchestras. The people who want to get ahead take anxiety reducing meds to keep from trembling.
Is that cheating?
If someone competing in a triathalon happens to have a sandwich during a transition when someone else doesn't... is that cheating?
America is the land of the hypocrite.
Is that cheating?
If someone competing in a triathalon happens to have a sandwich during a transition when someone else doesn't... is that cheating?
America is the land of the hypocrite.
25
Let me add a second to #15's suggestion that they all swim naked. And, hey, as long as we're talking sports, I think the guys who play beach volleyball should be made to wear Speedos as well. If the girls have to wear those tiny bikinis, the guys should show some skin too.
27
Alex Despatie, nice. I am indeed proud to be Canadian.
P.S. Antoine Vermette should swim. Or just be naked more.
P.S. Antoine Vermette should swim. Or just be naked more.
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