This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

Swimmers including (far left) Great Britain’s Caitlin McClatchley and James Goddard, model the new Speedo LZR Racer suit at its launch at The Gymnasium, London. (Picture by PA)

GUERNSEY’S swimming community is intrigued by a new controversial swimsuit that is revolutionising the sport.

Since 16 February, a staggering 11 world records have been broken and all of them have one thing in common – the swimmer was wearing a new Speedo LZR Racer suit. Developed in partnership with Nasa, it has no stitching, only bonded joints that borrow technology from the space shuttle.

The suit costs around £400. The world’s number one swimmer, Michael Phelps, says: ‘When I hit the water, I feel like a rocket.’

But not everyone is so happy about the development. The suit is currently available only to Speedo-sponsored swimmers and those coaches and swimmers who do not have access to it are making noises that it contravenes the rules that preclude the wearing of ‘technical equipment’ that enhances performance.

Swimming’s governing body, Fina, approved the suit last year but it is now calling Speedo to a meeting in Manchester during next month’s World Short-course Championships to discuss the matter.

Speedo argues that it is the swimmers, not the suit, who are breaking records.

Guernsey swimming coach Alison Frankland, who was in charge of the island’s team at last year’s Island Games in Rhodes, is watching the developments with interest.

‘I am quite excited about the suit but there is a lot of dissent among many coaches – mainly because they feel that the LZR suit contravenes the rules that preclude the wearing of “technical equipment” to enhance performance,’ she said.

‘Some of the coaches, of course, have contractual deals with rival suit makers and this is probably why they are so concerned. I do, however, agree with Speedo that “it is not the suit on the swimmer but the swimmer in the suit”.’

If the outfit does not get banned and goes into mass production, Frankland believes that it will become commonplace at competitions and could possibly be seen at next year’s Island Games in Aland.

‘We’ve got to wait to see what the developments are,’ she said.

‘Obviously, there is a little bit of aggravation with the other coaches who feel there is an unfair advantage and we’ll have to wait and see if the suits are acceptable. If all swimmers are able to get them, then I think everyone will get them, because you have to compete on a par with the rest of them.

‘It will be interesting to see what happens at the Olympic trials.’

This week, Frankland is at the British Championships at Pond’s Forge, Sheffield, which is also doubling as the British trials for the summer’s Beijing Olympics.

She is watching Sarnians Tom Hollingsworth and US-based Ian Powell, who both harbour Olympic dreams.

Hollingsworth is competing in the 200m butterfly and is relishing the challenge.

‘I’m quite confident and I’m looking forward to it. It’s exciting at the same time,’ he said.

Hollingsworth, who finished fourth in the 200m butterfly at last year’s national championships, says he received an email about the suit from Speedo but he is yet to wear one.

‘I’m a bit undecided. It’s quite a lot of money but it does make you swim faster,’ said University of East Anglia student Hollingsworth.

‘If I tried one out, it’d make my mind up more. I think it’s fine.

‘If it allows you to swim faster, then why not? Apparently it feels a lot lighter than the other suits that have come out before.’

And Guernsey’s gold medallist in the 100m individual medley at last summer’s Island Games in Rhodes, Ben Lowndes is also intrigued.

‘I don’t know too much about it, to be honest, but I’d probably give it try,’ said the 21-year-old.

The swimmer who has created the biggest impact with the new suit is France’s Alain Bernard.

The sprinter in the last month has broken the 50m and 100m freestyle world records.

But it is not the just the suit that is creating the headlines. Through a rigorous gym routine, he has put on more than a stone in visible muscle in a year.

He could usher in a new era in the sport that sees swimmers resembling body builders entering the pool.

Hollingsworth says sprinters spend a lot of time working out but does not think that it will go to the extreme.

‘These days they are spending more time in the gym than they are in the water,’ he said.

‘I think once you are too bulked up, you slow down.’