The Controversy Over the LZR Racer Suit in College Swimming

At 5 A.M., swimmers around the world get up to go to practice or are already jumping into the pool. Later on that day, swimmers will get into the water again and practice for another couple of hours. In addition to that, there are always weights and some sort of dry land activity. Some teams even include yoga and Pilates for added flexibility. Having a social life beyond seeing the people on your swim team is near impossible. With school work, high physical demands at practice, having to eat almost every three hours, and trying to maintain a normal life, the weeks are exhausting. It is no wonder why the NCAA has set a maximum number of hours to train each week in regards to college swimming. All of these factors play into the hopes that when a swimmer tapers, or rests for a meet so that they are in top condition to compete, they will be able to swim faster than they ever have before and hopefully achieve a best time or get a new “cut”. The same process has been happening year after year, and then 2008 came around and one of the biggest headaches for the swimmers and all of their supporters was created: the LZR ( pronounced lasar) Racer. This suit has been one of the largest controversies swimming has had to face. In swimming, technology, technique, and conditioning are key to success, but when technology becomes the main factor, the sport of swimming is lost in the turmoil. If suits keep becoming faster and more technologically advanced, the only thing left to do will be to jump into the pool, and where is the sport in that? All suits manufactured with a non-permeable material should be banned from all competitive swimming events; in addition to that, the suits should not be longer than the knees, no higher than the waist for men,...

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...uits and it is not the right impression for role models to set for younger athletes. Two professional swimmers were disqualified from a World Championship Meet because of wearing two fast suits, one underneath the other, in order to trap air and increase

buoyancy (Crouse). When professionals can no longer depend on their training and hard work, then there is a serious problem. Talent, training, and tenacity are and should always be the true reasons behind success. When someone breaks a world record with just those three aspects, they will be given what they deserve -more than a golf clap, a true explosion from the stadium. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to reach the standards that the LZR and all the other suits have set since they will no longer be allowed. Hopefully the sport of swimming will not be lost in the spotlight of a new toy ever again.