Watersports blog

Canada’s swimming governing body has decided to implement its own guidelines in terms of men’s swimwear that should be used by athletes during competitions.

Swimming Canada stated that effective September 1, 2009, the men’s swimwear to be worn by swimmers should conform to the approval guidelines by FINA, the world’s governing body on aquatic sports. These guidelines were supposed to start by January 1, 2010 but the Canadian governing body decided to jumpstart and began implementing the rules in order to let their athletes easily adjust.

National coach and Swimming Canada Chief Executive Officer Pierre Lafontaine said that they want the athletes to start adjusting to the new swimsuit guidelines this season. This way, the swimmers can easily adjust with having to compete without wearing the advanced swimwear which they used to wear in meets. However, Lafontaine added that the rule will not be implemented on Canadian swimmers competing abroad since this will take place on January 1 next year.

The international swimming federation FINA has decides that swimmers can no longer wear two swimsuits. Therese Alshammar was recently told that her world record on the 50-meter butterfly was not valid. The Swedish swimmer was wearing two swimsuits; a training suit under a body suit. The FINA said that that’s no longer allowed, swimmers must only wear one suit. Swimmers wear extra layers to increase their buoyancy.

These are the new rules:

• It is not allowed to wear swimsuits that cover the neck or extend past the ankles or shoulders.

• The material the swimsuit is made of can be not more than 0.04 inches thick.

• It’s not allowed to wear more than one suit and that suit must follow the shape of the body

• The buoyancy effect of a swimsuits may not be more that one Newton (this means they cannot support more than 3.5 ounces).

Alshammar says the new rules are sexist, “Man en woman are allowed to wear small Speedo-like underpants under their suit, but women are not allowed to use extra cover for their breasts”.