Gold Medal Mel: The Swimsuit Controversy Continues

Here is an interesting article about the competitive swim suits controversy. The author makes some interesting comments regarding FINA'S decision based on "may cause ... air trapping" and the effect of this decision on the free market and market fairness.

The Swimsuit Controversy Continues
Blueseventy did not make the infamous FINA competitive swimsuit list. FINA's reason was subjective:

"While these swimsuits comply with the buoyancy values when tested in accordance with defined procedure, we note that this kind of construction MAY cause significant air trapping effects when worn by the swimmers."

"May?" May sounds gray. What scientific method did they use to arrive at "may"? (Did Jaked and Arena get the "may" answer as well?)

Whether FINA's method was scientific or not, National Governing Bodies around the globe are deciding whether or not to accept it. USA Swimming's Rules & Regulations Committee is doing just that. Based on the feedback I've gotten, USA Swimming is following FINA 100%. Japan, Italy and France are not. British Swimming is allowing the suits previously approved by FINA through September of '09. (The Brits are doing so to give the companies and the swimmers who have invested in the now banned suits, time to make changes and adjustments.)

Can the Brits, Japanese, Italians, and/or the French, really compete in suits which are not on the list? If they break world records, will the records count? What world record swims count that have been swum in the past, the ones broken in suits that are now not on the list?

I know, I know. It is very easy to get lost in this world with so much divided leadership.

The competitive swimsuit biz, marshaled by FINA, has become the wild, wild west. While I confess that I love the media circus it has caused and is causing, unfortunately FINA's actions right now will disrupt market fairness.

I know the introduction of new technology can get ugly, and I have compassion for the FINA folks at this time in history. HOWEVER, I always worry about market fairness, the ability of all players involved to make money. We need a vibrant market. We need lots of players.

Speaking from an Olympian's point of view, one who was once under contract at Speedo, I knew my value to them was based on my not endorsing some other swimsuit. During my time, the era of papersuits, Speedo was an fantastic partner. I valued our relationship. The money I earned supported my training. Without them I couldn't have continued competing.

I worry now about the world-class swimmers trying to make it, the ones on the edge, just out of the medal count. Often these swimmers become our new champions, and in 2009 they're more than likely post-graduates. They need a vibrant market. They need swimsuit manufacturers who need them. They need endorsement dollars to sustain their careers on the way to the Olympics.
The rub here is simple: FINA needs to be fair. They should've given swimsuit manufacturers, like Blueseventy, time to make changes before World Championship, the biggest meet of the year.
Sadly, FINA has not.
I could reference other swimsuit manufacturers, but I'm not. I'm referencing Blueseventy for one reason: I know Roque.

Roque Santos is an old teammate, my fellow Olympic alum from the 1992 Games in Spain. Roque is now (and has been) the man behind Blueseventy, the competitive swimsuit that nabbed a nice piece of the market share since last spring.

Rogue is good guy. Everybody know and loves Roque! From our '92 Class, he was the most popular swimmer, the easiest guy to get alone with.

I remember seeing Roque all last year. He had a grin on his face and car-trunk full of blue suits. "It's fast, Melvin. Just try it. You'll see." I tried it and liked it, but it meant little to me. I was doing it purely out of curiosity, to get some overall sense about the new technology.

What I saw Roque doing last year made me very proud. He was selling a great new product, and quickly Blueseventy became sort of an APPLE in a PC world. While Speedo saturated the market with splashy ads and flashy Olympic athlete appearances, Roque sold Blueseventy on the road to our grassroot swimming geeks.

"It's fast..." was his pitch alone, and it worked on the strength of his reputation and the product's results.

Watching '08 Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games, I saw a lot of Speedos, a few TYR suits and a surprising number of Blueseventies. Then US Masters Swimming partnered with Blueseventy, and soon a splashy sponsorship with an Olympic icon followed. Blueseventy had arrived. Roque had clearly done a great job!

For me, Roque did more than grab market share. He created a brand that could and would go on to support Olympic swimmers' careers.

I've saved this last part, though it's no big reveal. Blueseventy has been FINA approved for nearly two years. Now absent from the FINA list, Blueseventy is stuck trying to modify their product. Can they do it by World Trials? Can they do it by World Champs? It difficult to proceed with feedback from FINA like "may". Still I hope so, for Roque...and for every single world-class athlete.