Is swimming ruled by technology rather than athleticism?
The Olympic pool, which used to be the home of scantily clad swimmers, will look a lot different in Sydney. Some competitors might appear to be readying for a deep-sea dive. Others will be seem to be dressed for a trip to the beach — in the 1930s. Bodysuits have revolutionized the sport, with world records falling almost every week to swimmers who have found that the more skin they cover, the more quickly they get from one end of the pool to the other. “There’s no doubt in my mind they’re faster,” said Mark Schubert, coach of the U.S. men’s team that will compete in Sydney. “I’m not sure if some of that is emotional or psychological. But obviously there’s some difference there.” This major advance in swimsuit design — including use of a fabric known as “Fastskin” that was designed by marine biologists — raises a perplexing question, however. Is swimming now being ruled by technology rather than athleticism? FINA, the world governing body of swimming, ruled in November that Fastskin
