Why Are Full-Body Swimsuits Not Allowed at the Olympics?

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As a long-time fan of Olympic swimming, I have witnessed the evolution of swimsuits over the years with great interest. Swimming has always been an intriguing sport to me, and I admire the dedication, skill, and determination of athletes who compete at the highest level. However, I have also noticed some concerns regarding the role of swimsuits in the competitive dynamic of this sport.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, numerous countries will join swimming competitions with different styles such as freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, medleys, and relays. Swimming, like other sports, has intricate rules concerning what competitors can wear. Over the years, modifications in these guidelines have left some spectators perplexed about what is permissible. In this article, we’ll explore why swimmers are prohibited from wearing full-body swimsuits during the Olympics.

Why are full-body one-piece swimsuits banned at the Olympics?

At the Olympics, it’s forbidden to wear full-body swimsuits as they could potentially give swimmers an unjust edge.

Over a decade ago, as a gamer representing a swimmer, I would have had to shave off all my body hair and wear minimal swimsuits to minimize resistance in the water and boost my swimming speed. But then, game-changing technological advancements came into play with the introduction of full-body swimsuits. In first person, it felt like an upgrade! These suits took things a step further by providing even more advantages, leading me to break numerous swimming records as I swam faster than ever before thanks to the revolutionary technology in my suit.

In 2008, I was thrilled to witness the unveiling of Speedo’s revolutionary swimsuit for the Beijing Olympics, dubbed the LZR Racer. This suit promised to make swimmers faster than ever before with its advanced water-repellency and chlorine resistance features. However, as if that wasn’t enough, other brands followed suit, releasing even more technologically advanced suits. Unfortunately, this led to an imbalanced competitive dynamic in the sport.

Starting on January 1, 2010, World Aquatics implemented a ban on advanced full-body swimsuits in accordance with their regulations. The aim was to prevent any competitor from gaining an unfair edge. In line with the World Aquatics rules for the 2024 Paris Olympics swimwear, all suits must be authorized by World Aquatics prior to use. For men, this means suits that cover from the waist to the knees, while women’s suits should extend from the shoulders to the knees. Competitors are also required to adhere to specific guidelines for other equipment such as swimming caps and goggles.

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2024-07-29 18:12