The records have been falling at the Swimming World Championships in Rome, but who should get the credit –- the swimmers or the suits they’re wearing?
The controversy was sparked when Michael Phelps lost the 200-meter freestyle – and his world record – to a virtually unknown German swimmer who was wearing the latest in high-tech suit design.
Some say these suits give swimmers an unfair advantage.
So, FINA the sport’s world governing body, has done a flip-turn and will ban certain performance-enhancing body suits – sometime next year.
We’re taking a look at different perspectives on the issue that’s making waves in the swim world.
First,
ABC correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi explains just how these suits are believed to give swimmers an edge.
“The suit is called the Arena X-Glide. It’s made of polyurethane, is buoyant and said to help a swimmer float, so all their energy is used to move them forward, not just stay up in the water.
And because it traps more air, it’s considered faster than the Speedo suit Phelps wears.” British swimmer Jo Jackson wears the super suit and likes it.
Interviewed by the
BBC, Jackson says it’s training, not technology, that’s the difference between winning and losing.
“Whatever happens next year we just have to get on with it, put the suits on and as long as you’ve done the hard work you know that you’ll do well.”In a post-race interview broadcast by
Deutsche Welle Radio, Phelps said he was beaten by a man – not a swimsuit.
Still:
“It’s changed the sport completely. The headlines are always, ‘Who’s wearing what suit?’ It’s not swimming and I’m looking forward to the day that we’re able to call our sport ‘swimming’ again.”Maybe Phelps isn’t blaming the suit for his loss. But, according to
CNN’s Carol Costello, his coach Bob Bowman is.
“Phelps’ coach is really angry at this. Bob Bowman is threatening pull Phelps from the sport until the suits are banned. He wants them banned right now.”Other sports embrace technology that helps athletes perform better – do you agree with FINA that these swimsuits should be banned?
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