Annotated Sources

Douglas Wiggins

Early Overview for Research Paper

            I am writing my paper on competitive swimming and technology. More specifically, I am focusing on Speedo's "LZR Racer" swimsuit, which has taking competitive swimming by storm in the past eight months. Since its introduction in February 2008, the suit has led to an unprecedented surge of new world records in almost every event. As swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports to follow in the United States, the suit has been relatively well received.  I plan on arguing against the use of the suit and future suits like it. First, I will discuss the financial concerns with the suit, and how those concerns add to competitive disadvantages of poorer countries.  There are also problems with the market, as swimmers from other countries have had to drop their native sponsorships in favor of Speedo in order to compete.  Most importantly, I will talk about the concept of "technological doping" that the suit calls into question. The LZR suit significantly alters performance to the point where over 62 new world records have been set. Many people wanted Barry Bonds' home-run record to be asterisked because of steroid use, but perhaps these same people should take a closer look at swimming records.

            The process of research has already led me to use the Academic Search Premier and OmniFile Full Text Mega databases. I also plan on perusing the Physical Education Index database. In addition, I plan on using a number of online newspaper articles and primary sources for both information, and direct quotes about the suit.

Speedo's LZR Racer suit should not be allowed in competitive swimming because of its high cost, monopolistic qualities, and its clear artificial benefit to swimmers intent on breaking hard fought world records.

Brasor, Philip, "Celebrity rules as the Olympics strays far from its ideal", Japan Times, August 10, 2008, p. 11.

The first half of the article is the portion I am concerned with.  Before the Olympics, most of the top Japanese swimmers were sponsored by Japanese companies. However, with the rise of the LZR suit by Speedo in early 2008, the companies, including Mizuno, were pressured to release the swimmers from their contracts so that they could sign with Speedo and wear the LZR suit in order to stay competitive.  The companies had to comply, worried that if Japanese swimmers were put at a disadvantage and performed poorly in the Olympics, the companies would suffer a large public relations setback.

Longman, Jere, Gina Kolata, Karen Crouse. "As Records Fall, Technology Muddies the Water.." New York Times (2008):

This article sheds light on how the suit may enhance the buoyancy of swimmers, which would disqualify its use in accordance with rules set by FINA, which is the international governing body of competitive swimming. The suit can increase performance by almost two percent, which is enough to substantially alter one's standing in races which are frequently decided by tenths of a second. The technical director for France's swimming federation, Claude Faquet understands the natural technological progression of the sport, but he cautions against losing control of the process.

Schneiderman, R. The 2008 technolympics. Electronic Design v. 56 no. 15 (July 24 2008) p. 32-3, 36, 38, 40

The first half of the article discusses technology's effect on swimming and brings up several interesting points. TYR Sport, which is the second largest swimwear maker, sued Warnaco Group's division that makes Speedo swimsuits making an argument that Speedo had violated anti-trust laws and false advertising.  TYR also sued USA Swimming and head coach Mark Schubert, who was said to have told swimmers hoping to go to the Olympics that they would not be able to go without a LZR suit.  It brings to question if Speedo has a monopoly on the market of international competitive swimming, as suits produced by other companies in response to the LZR Racer have been unable to capture the appeal, or apparently the results produced by the LZR.

Anderson, K. The War of the Swimsuits [Speedo's LZR Racer]. Sports Illustrated v. 108 no. 25 (June 23 2008) p. 54-6

This article has several quotes of interest. The gap between the LZR suits and other suits, despite denials from FINA, who authorized its use for Olympic competition, continues to be more apparent. Phil Whitten, the executive director of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America, said that some of the advancement granted from the suit would not have been expected for another forty to fifty years. The suit has an internal core which is designed to keep the swimmer's body position in the prime position for efficient swimming. This would be significant artificial altering to the sport. One French swimmer was worried about getting beat by equipment after working hard.

Hochman, P. Innovation of Olympic Proportions [Cover story]. Fast Company no. 127 (July/August 2008) p. 78-88, 90-1

There's a small paragraph which gives further insight into the minds of coaches dealing with LZR suits. Speedo worked with NASA, which is a government agency, to create the technology to create the suit. Working with a government funded agency that specializes in advanced technology gives Speedo a competitive advantage that other producers cannot emulate.  USA coach Mark Schubert said that swimmers have a "black and white decision to make" if they were sponsored by a company other than Speedo. Either they could take the money from their sponsors, or they could compete for a medal.

Canadian Press, "Speedo suit expected to help swimmers rewrite records in Beijing." CBC (2008) 26 Oct 2008 <http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2008/04/11/swim-records-beijing.html>.

The Italian coach, Alberto Castagnetti, was the coach who first referred to the use of the LZR as "technological doping". His swimmers elaborated, saying that the suit's additional flotation is what makes it so unfair. They likened it to using a scuba suit, which also grants additional buoyancy, and is banned from competition. If so, how can FINA possibly endorse the use of something that clearly goes against their own rules? The Italians are bound to swim for Arena, and since the ultrasound technology is patented by NASA, Arena has been unable to produce a comparable suit to the LZR, which puts non-Speedo affiliated countries at an instant disadvantage.