Swimsuit technology criticised by leading coaches

Posted: Sunday 14th December 2008 | 21:09

THERE was a time when all you needed for success in swimming were trunks and a pair of goggles.

But after nine world records fell in four days at the European Short Course Championships in Croatia, bringing the total lowered this year to 105, leading swim coaches have hit back.

They claim the appliance of science in the design of swimsuits has been taken too far.

Great Britain is one of the 15 nations that plan to present a petition to world governing body Fina, calling for regulations to be implemented ahead of next year's World Championships in Rome.

Fina have consistently claimed design of the new suits - specifically Speedo's LZR Racer - did not fall foul of their rule book.

But as world record after world record has been broken - mostly by swimmers wearing the LZR - complaints about the suits have only intensified, leading to today's petition of leading European nations.

Critics of the high-tech suits believe they create illegal levels of buoyancy and Fina has now commissioned scientific tests ahead of a meeting with 21 manufacturers at their Lausanne headquarters next February.

Meanwhile, Britain concluded the final major championships of the season with five medals, as James Goddard added 100m medley bronze to his 200m gold and Lizzie Simmonds claimed bronze in the 200m backstroke on the final day in Croatia.

Simmonds has lowered three British records in Rijeka but did see France's Alexandra Putra beat her 200m backstroke European record on route to her gold medal.

Hannah Miley swam close to her British record in the women's 400m medley but finished in fourth place overall. She touched in a time of 4:27.33 and missed the bronze medal by just under half a second

Fellow Scot Kris Gilchrist took the fourth place in the men's 200m breaststroke after touching home in a time of 2:05.84.

Marco Loughran and Jemma Lowe both found themselves in seventh place in their events. Loughran was competing in the men's 100m backstroke and finished in 51.86. Lowe took to the water in the women's 100m butterfly and touched in a time of 57.43.