Coach Charlie Yourd, Bloomington, Illinois [09/08/2000]

In retrospect, the arguments against the long swim suits and new fabrics based on their possible effectiveness in producing faster swimming only played into the hands of swim suit marketers, making the suits more appealing. In fact, the "controversial aspect" of the new fabrics was freely mentioned by Speedo's lead marketing man in print and broadcast statements.

Now that Prof. Joel Stager of Indiana University has released results of the first study on "Fastskin" fabric suits, from performances at the just-concluded US Olympic Trials, and has shown the fabric to have absolutely NO influence on swimming speed, the suit manufacturers lose their major selling point. Since the suits have been proven ineffective, the only reason for a swimmer to buy a suit of any style made in the new fabric would be to make a fashion statement. Popov's traditional-suited WR this summer in the 50m FS is more evidence supporting this.

Speedo, with 30,000 of the suits in US inventory and shipping to retailers this fall, is in an anxious position to beat the clock. "There's a sucker born every minute," but in this case, Speedo needs to unload as many of those 30,000 suits on the suckers before too many of them discover the suits are ineffective and worthless.

This puts the shrewd Olympian in a great bargaining position this week. If the new fabric suits at the US Trials didn't aid performance, they didn't hurt it much either. What would make an Olympian decide to take the risk on the new fabric? Money and lots of it. Lenny Krayzelburg and Jenny Thompson's agents ought to be hitting up Speedo for an additional $100,000 each, payable in advance, in the form of a cashier's check, to do their "advertising swims" (previously known by the antique phrase "Olympic final") in a visibly longer suit.

Meanwhile, what's going on down home, at ground level?

Last winter, my swim parents were all pleased to discover that I saved them money by banning the long suits on our team based on contravening the rulebooks. Now they are very pleased to know they'll be saving money due to my informing them that BOTH the long suits and ANY suit in the new --more expensive -- "Fastskin" fabric have been determined to have NO influence on performance. This based on Prof. Joel Stager's study of US Olympic Trials results.

While at the local swim retailer yesterday, I mentioned to the manager the 30,000 "Fastskin" suits to be shipped this fall. Her response was to tell me Speedo "allocates" a certain number of suits to each retailer. "Allocates" means the retailer cannot add to the number, but can order less. She was flabbergasted to learn from the Speedo rep that they allocated $13,000 worth of "Fastskin" suits to her small-town shop which serves primarily young age group swimmers, summer league swimmers and high school team members. One small college coach, who earlier came in the store had responded, "Can you see me going to my athletic director and asking for that?" The retailer cut back from the "allocation" to just a few samples in the traditional styles.

And while waiting for their kids after practice last night, my common-sense Midwestern swim parents, upon hearing this, shook their heads and chuckled as we wondered aloud "what must the people at Speedo be smoking" to come up with this entire bizarre episode. Not only has Speedo tarnished its brand name goodwill, so has USA Swimming by enthusiastically joining in to put this hoax over on its own members. The parents were extremely disappointed at USAS's writing of the full page "puff piece" touting the "Fastskin" fabric, which was found opposite a full page Speedo advertisement, these on pages 36 and 37 of the April/May 2000 issue of Splash magazine. ..."The almighty buck...." agreed the swim moms and dads. The primary group of "suckers" Speedo is anxious to unload those 30,000 suits to just happen to be the young athlete members of USAS. That's right...to children.

Had USAS leadership simply adhered to the rulebooks (FINA and USAS), it would never have found itself in this sorry, sordid situation of aiding in misrepresentations to its young, impressionable membership. In this neck of the woods we haven't seen one that flagrant since we ran the snake-oil salesman out of town on a rail, tarred and feathered.

If anything, this has been a good opportunity for this coach to increase credibility with his swim parents, by not being sucked into the faddish hoax of these ridiculous swim suits. I'm the one who has made the case for saving money. Or perhaps the one who said, "watch your wallet, there's a pickpocket nearby." Sadly, USAS has "partnered" with the pickpocket, doing all it can to facilitate the sale of ineffective, useless goods...Yes, to quote Splash magazine, "The world's number one brand of swimwear has introduced the most technically advanced competitive swimsuit ever made." Maybe so, but unfortunately it costs more and isn't any faster. You jaded city slickers, busily wondering whether to trade in your BMW on a new Cadillac, might fall for it, but down here on the farm, we're laughing long and loud at that one, all the while making sure our hands are on our wallets.

My next team newsletter will further educate the entire team on why our swimmers won't be wasting their parent's money on a fad, and explaining that swimmers seen on TV have been paid lots of money to wear those suits.

Return to Table of Contents for The Bodysuit Problem.