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Comment - Sports March 2009
Hello! Exciting times, as the UK gears up for... Well, I'm not sure what we're gearing up for. But it's exciting times, anyway.
Linebreak announced exclusively to SGB recently that they've agreed a deal with Prostar where their gear will be included in the Prostar catalogue, and distributed by the Wakefield company. This is an exciting deal, because Prostar have never done this before and it gets Linebreak out into much wider channels. It should be a really good deal for both companies.
What else is new? I had the privilege of seeing and trying out some of Brooks' latest apparel recently, and I must say I was really pleasantly surprised. Most shoe specialists do some apparel, but this is... Well, it's excellent. The running top I tried on - which I believe was an Equilibrium short sleeve - was at least as good as any technical top I've tried. I think Brooks are on to a winner with their apparel this year - check it out at www.brooksrunning.co.uk and you'll see what I mean. On the ladies side, the PR T is a real standout too.
In other news, world swimming governing body Fina is 'cracking down' on hi-tech swimsuits after 108 world records were broken last year - 79 of them by swimmers in the Speedo LZR Racer suit.
Fina has said that from July's World Championships, suits will not cover the neck and cannot extend past the shoulders and ankles. The changes also put limits on suits' thickness and buoyancy.
Maybe I'm over-simplifying, but... Well, a couple of things spring to mind. Does this sound to you like the achievements of some exceptional athletes are being undermined and undervalued? Some of these records have stood for 30-odd years. It's about time somepone broke them. Or did the previous holders have some sort of advantage too? What about all the technology between now and then?
There's only one thing for it - for the playing field to be level, so to speak, they'll all have to swim naked. And any genetic advantages will not be allowed, because it's just not fair.
It's technology, improvements in fabrics, design - lots and lots of factors come into this even before you get to the athletes themselves. What were the swimmers wearing that broke the 29 non-Speedo world records? What 'advantage' did they have? Sometimes, technology moves on in great jumps - that seems to have happened last year. Everyone will catch up, then someone will step ahead again. It's the nature of technology, and of investment. Of course, swimmers cramming themselves into two suits to aid buoyancy is both silly and should perhaps be considered cheating, but that's another issue.
Wow, I'm talking a lot. I'd best get this issue finished, it's too good to hold on to...
Jon Bruford, Editor
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