What is Digg?173 Comments
- webefools, on 03/28/2008, -3/+116eliminate all swim suits, compete in the nude...
- dartmanx, on 03/28/2008, -7/+100I want a high-tech one-piece female swimsuit that turns transparent when images of it are broadcast.
- Flashman, on 03/28/2008, -2/+73I don't think it's fair to say the suits are unfair because other countries' Olympic squads have contractual obligations to manufacturers whose suits aren't as advanced. That's a result of putting business before performance. Where the suits might be considered unfair is their price - up to $5000 each - which puts them out of the reach of poorer countries. However, world-class training and facilities are out of reach of these countries too, and nobody talks about that aspect of the Olympics being unfair.
The suits are fine. Perhaps they will give a temporary advantage to some countries, but this will only spur further innovation. On the upside, perhaps the logical extension of banning the suits is to have all competitors swim naked. - slimjim5811, on 03/28/2008, -5/+72Let me get this straight...this new bionic swimsuit is aqua-powered, moves your arms and legs for you and is controlled by a 9 year old kid in Omaha via his Wii remote?
Ok...I didn't read the article. - zoom1928, on 03/28/2008, -13/+54Buried. The article is useless. It talks around the subject of the suit, but it doesn't give any facts about the suit. What is it that makes it notable?
- inactive, on 03/28/2008, -7/+44Naked Swimmers...FTW!
- Flashman, on 03/28/2008, -0/+33Check the link in the article: http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02 ...
"In key locations on the suit, the woven fabric used in previous designs has been replaced by polyurethane membranes with 24 percent lower drag (it’s too stiff to use everywhere). The suit has eliminated stitching and instead relies on ultrasonic welding to further reduce drag." - inactive, on 03/28/2008, -3/+27In the next episodes:
Can running shoes be too fast?
Do light T-Shirts allow basketball players jump higher? - jasonsalas, on 03/28/2008, -5/+26less is more. :-)
- julialopez, on 03/28/2008, -0/+18true. if the only reason a country can't use the best suits is because they signed a deal with another manufacturer then they have to live with the consequences.
- noahhoward, on 03/28/2008, -0/+16I agree, the olympics should go back to their roots, swim, run, vault, shoot naked.
- shaka999, on 03/28/2008, -0/+16Brazillian!
- TheKrillr, on 03/28/2008, -3/+17I personally prefer the way one-pieces look. They accent the curves of a woman's figure as opposed to showing as much skin as possible.
- akatherder, on 03/28/2008, -0/+13They would have to make the pool deeper for the African swimmers than right?
- centran, on 03/28/2008, -0/+13So then would black men dominate polo because.... you know... they have a built in rudder?
- AndrewJC, on 03/28/2008, -1/+12Swimmers all shave everything anyway to prevent drag. All that swimming nude will do is increase the amount of shaving one does before competing.
- Adma1, on 03/28/2008, -0/+10I could see increased drag issues for men swimming naked.
- allanpat, on 03/28/2008, -2/+11would never happen - wet pubes create too much drag
- MattJF317, on 03/28/2008, -2/+10http://www.index.hr/images2/Jessica-Alba-skinnierV ...
Yes - drafhk, on 03/28/2008, -1/+9$500 each. Big difference.
- centran, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8Perverted aspects aside... that is a great idea. Removes technology right out of the equation.
- inactive, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8$550, actually. But if you are an Olympic swimmer, they actually pay YOU or your team to wear it. You can pre-order it if you want.
No one at the Olympics pays for the equipment you see them wearing. - Topher06, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7I have to partially agree that while swimming itself has to be one of the cheapest sports on earth (you just add water), if it suddenly costs more to outfit a swimmer then it does a hockey player, then that can start becoming unfair to developing nations. Having said that, those African marathon runners are still wearing expensive state-of-the-art shoes (in fact I think those athletes are studied to learn how to make running shoes better) despite coming from poor nations. If a nation has hopes that an athlete might actually compete to WIN the game, rather then just competing IN the game, then even a $5000 suit can be afforded. Corporate sponsors will also want to put their suit or brand on any athlete that can reach for gold, regardless of which nation they come from.
- freakstyle571, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8As a swimmer who has worn FastSkin in the past... These suits do help. But nowhere near the degree that I think most people are thinking. This isn't shaving seconds, half-seconds, or even tenths of seconds off of lap times. Its HELPING shave hundredths of seconds off. 99.99999999% of that shaving that second off is all in the swimmer's training and sometimes luck. When you're dealing with accuracy at that level, a push from a wall that is an inch off mark can make the difference between 18.23 second in a 50 meter sprint and 18.22 seconds (times pulled from head). I think these suits are fantastic and see no reason to ban them or enact rules against their use. Don't discount the swimmer for breaking these records by blaming it all on the suit and not giving them ample credit. Much of the recent improvement has to do with better understanding the bodies physiology and better training regimes to prepare for these events. Bravo to the swimmers who took down 15+ year old records. That is quite an accomplishment.
- Jenovaside, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7I swear half of this story's diggs are people who thought it was a pic of a swimsuit model
- ancalagon73, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8Not so sure this would go over well for the winter Olympics though.
- bobartig, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6Well, in competive swimming, more is more. The fabric they've made has less friction than skin, so these new suits cover from neck to knee to reduce drag in the water.
- GRAVEWiSH, on 03/28/2008, -1/+6swimmers are the most fit athletes, plus they have the best bodies and get all the chicks..trust me i know
- EtherGnat, on 03/28/2008, -1/+6"Swimmers don't look that good naked.... female swimmers that is. "
Judge for yourself:
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/0 ...
http://www.getoutdoors.com/goblog/uploads/Dara_Tor ...
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/0 ...
http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20050812/12478 ...
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/0 ...
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/0 ...
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/0 ... (twins no less) - akatherder, on 03/28/2008, -1/+6FTA: "In many sports, say basketball and badminton, this is a moot point—a pair of shoes won't make any real difference."
Ok, I challenge Michael Jordan to a game of basketball. I get to wear Reeboks and he has to wear high-heeled, wooden clogs strapped to cinderblocks. He'd still beat me but it would be a lot closer than if we had the same footwear. - pat0neill, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5i am a swimmer, and look at the rate the records were falling at before these suits started coming out. i have worn them, they don't make such a compelling difference. its a matter of thousandths of seconds.
- debuggercll, on 03/28/2008, -3/+8That's right.
- jnosanov, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4That was an amazing comment and mental picture, I digg your comment (back up to 1!) and tip my hat to you sir or maam
- SkippyDoorknob, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4There was shrinkage!!!
- green67, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4shrinkage?
- Energon, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4Go figure, that was how the ancient athletes were obliged to be in the Olympic Games. Plain nude. To avoid cheating and to guarantee that they were all men.
- TheKrillr, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4Hypothetically?
I think you mean stereotypical heterosexual male. - n3demonic, on 03/28/2008, -8/+12Then asian men would dominate the field because they'll have better aerodynamics below the waist
- BoneheadFarker, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3Oddly enough...it's somewhat relevent...
- zephyr42, on 03/28/2008, -7/+10Swimmers don't look that good naked.... female swimmers that is. They're very muscley with no curves. Where there should be curves they're usually flat. I swam for a long time... I know these things.
- akatherder, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3What are you even talking about? We were discussing fitness, not danger involved in sports. Let's say most people can't swim 100M (much less 1000M). Most people probably couldn't bike up the same inclines that bicyclists have to deal with. If you want to focus on endurance and fitness, then swimming is in a category with a bunch of other activities.
- zephyr42, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4The fast suits have less drag than just skin. it's why they make them.
- Grok22, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3Actually many African runners have a very natural foot strike from growing up barefoot and barefoot running. Modern running shoes have a heel lift that changes how the foot hits the ground creating more impact, all the cushioning in the world wont overcome this. the best thing to run in is either barefoot or very miminal shoes with no heel lift and a soft flexible sole.
- cw1242, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3Then there would be complaints that having a smaller dong reduces drag and that some people are at a disadvantage because of their penis size. Nipples would also be a target I suppose.
- cw1242, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3You can't work a dick off like you can love handles though...
- jhoon, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3Having worn my share of fastskins, I can say that the most significant effect of wearing one of these suits is added buoyancy. Since it's long been known that certain suits (e.g. wetsuits) are very buoyant, FINA rules are very clear about how much extra a suit may confer a swimmer. I wore an FS Pro (the previous model from the suit discussed ITA), and it's certainly helps a bit but isn't enough to fundamentally alter the sport.
- zephyr42, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4Actually.... Grave has it right, swimmers are the most fit.... And if you don't believe me go swim 1000m butterfly. I guarantee you won't make it 100m without stopping.
- l4lucas, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3More information on the actual composition and science behind the suit:
http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02 ...
As a long time competitive swimmer I do not see any problem with this suit. It does not cost 5000 as Flashman says. The full body version is only $500. Still a lot, but in the range of any elite athlete going to the Olympic games. - GonzoAKQJ10, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3I think the suit shouldn't matter if the swimmer is the one powering the movement. Technology is a good thing. Did drag racers bitch when supercharges were invented? No, they make you go faster. That's the point.
- MacTyler, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3haha don't listen to everyone else, that was hillarious and totally demonstrates how this issue is absurd.
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