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Un-Level Playing Field

The Hot Corner

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: August 10, 2008

What would the Olympics be without the flair of a little controversy?

Biased judges, doping, athletes attacking their foes, all of these (and others) have been witnessed at some time or another, and the 2008 Beijing Games are no different.

Thankfully, though, this year's version – as of right now – is not so menacing or laden with conspiracy. It's simply the swimsuits – Speedo's LZR Racer suit, to be exact.

Is it a story as juicy and scandalous as drugs and cheating? Perhaps not, but its impact on the podium as well as all previously held world and Olympic records could be equally as vast.

Go to Speedo's Website to see why this is. Swimsuits are clearly not just a little nylon or polyester sewn together anymore.

The LZR – pronounced "laser" in conversation – is hailed as being three years in the making, debuting in the competitive spotlight at February's Missouri Grand Prix Swim Meet. Here are a few of its specs:

• They're made from specially designed LZR Pulse fabric that is ultra lightweight and designed to "reduce muscle oscillation and skin vibration through powerful compression."
• Suits are constructed with Speedo's LZR Panels, "embedded at strategic points on the swimmer's body," delivering "optimum streamlined shape and drag reduction."
• There's an internal core stabilizer that works like a corset, supposedly helping to maintain the swimmers best body position in the water for longer periods of time.
• It's constructed with seams that are ultrasonically welded together, creating a fully bonded suit that is streamlined all over.

Speedo's following comment caps the impressiveness of swimming's latest act of ingenuity.

"Because when you step on that block in a LZR Racer, you know you're wearing a suit designed by international aerospace, engineering, and medical professionals who know that each millisecond counts."

In a nutshell, this is apparently what happens when you throw aquatic engineers, the American Medical Association and NASA into a room – you get the LZR.

The results since busting onto the scene in February have been staggering. According to an Aug. 9 Associated Press report, of the 51 world records that have fallen this year (as of Friday), 47 were by swimmers armed with the LZR. At that rate, it is practically a formality that more are primed to tumble in Beijing.

The previously mentioned results don't seem to leave much for debate in regards to the suit's effectiveness. Though this would make it appear the sanctity of history and fair play is under attack, defenders of the suit – and its users – are plenty.

One predictable rallying cry behind use of the LZR came from Austrian swimmer Markus Rogan. He will be wearing the suit in Beijing and had this to say about how its potential impact.

"I tested it. I threw it in the pool and it didn't move at all," he said. "So I'll still have to swim."

That's true, Mr. Rogan, very true.

Just like tossing a vial of anabolic steroids or HGH and a needle on a weight bench isn't going to pump out 225-pound presses on its own.

Granted, suggesting that the donning of a swimsuit is in the same ballpark as cheating with illegal drug use isn't completely fair. I admit that. But the basic comparison used in this specific instance and form is hard to argue.

Here's what Speedo Australia general manager Rob Davies had to say about his company's sleek record-breaker, taken from a March 23 article in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"People have to embrace innovation and technology otherwise we would all be sitting around watching people racing in Stirling Moss's car or watching Roger Federer playing with Rod Laver's racquet."

Similar to Rogan's comment, there's plenty to agree with in regards to Davies' quote as well.

For me, the problem lies in the examples Davies listed. Automobile racing, tennis and swimming, all – for the most part – are individual sports. Generally speaking, when there's advancement in equipment involving a team sport, everyone utilizes it. There are meetings and discussions and votes to introduce whatever the item may be to keep the playing field level.

That is not always the case in the world of individual sports. Depending on sponsorships or preference or limited access, different athletes are using different equipment.

Personally, I don't want to see nor do I remotely care about who is better when using a certain racquet or wearing a particular swimsuit, I just want to see who is the better performer. Man to man, woman to woman. If I see an athlete this week wearing a LZR edge out someone who is not, I really won't know how to take that. One thing is guaranteed, though, I won't patently assume the victor is the faster swimmer or even swam the better race.

I don't like that. It's not supposed to be that way. Winning and losing is supposed to be just that. Clear-cut, black-and-white, no questions asked.

The other hot-button issue for contention centers on records and history. Am I saying that certain sports should go back to the days Davies referred to? No, but I am saying that the differences in technology should be duly noted.

Perhaps Roger Federer would ace Rod Laver off the court. Maybe Tiger Woods would slam Sammy Snead. Possibly Michael Phelps could swim laps around Mark Spitz.

Those are all very real possibilities, but to similarly compare them as though they were playing their respective sports on a level playing field is absurd.

For the simple sake of impartiality and legitimacy, swimming really needs to be an all-or-nothing type sport. Either everyone's wearing the LZR, or everyone's wearing something else.

That's the only fair way to go.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com

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