Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Hackett angered by swimsuit times

Fina World Championships
Date: 17 July-2 August (swimming from 26 July) Venue: Rome
Coverage: Live/highlights on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website

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Report - Hi-tech swimsuits explained

Grant Hackett has branded swimming's governing body Fina an "absolute disgrace" for allowing polyurethane swimsuits at the World Championships.

Eleven world records have been broken in two days by swimmers wearing 100% polyurethane outfits.

The three-time Olympic champion's 800m and 1500m freestyle marks are the only pre-bodysuit records still standing.

"New leadership is needed to look after the sport. I'm furious at Fina," said the Australian, who retired in 2008.

Fina is set to make a statement on Tuesday in relation to the glut of new world bests at the Rome championships.

RECORDS IN ROME
Day One (six records):
M 400m free Paul Biedermann (Arena X-Glide)
W 200m IM Ariana Kukors (Jaked 01)
W 4x100m free (2) Netherlands AND Britta Steffen broke 100m free on her leg (Adidas Hydrofoil)
W 100m butterfly Sarah Sjostrom (Arena X-Glide)
W 400m free Federica Pellegrini (Jaked 01)
Day Two (five records):
W 100m butterfly Sarah Sjostrom (Arena X-Glide)
W 200m IM Ariana Kukors (Jaked 01)
W 100m breaststroke Rebecca Soni (Arena X-Glide)
W 100m backstroke Anastasia Zueva (Arena X-Glide)
M 100m breaststroke Brenton Rickard (Jaked 01)

One of the first records to fall was the men's 400m freestyle, which was held for seven years by Australian Ian Thorpe but broken on Monday by Germany's Paul Biedermann.

The German has improved on his personal best by almost seven-and-a-half seconds since he started using a polyurethane one-piece suit.

"I hate saying this because I sound like a bad sport, but that world record would not have gone without that suit," Hackett told The Australian newspaper.

"What Fina's top officials have done to the sport, what they have allowed to happen, is an absolute disgrace."

The governing body announced last week that all polyurethane suits would be outlawed from all their competitions from the start of 2010.

"Swimming will actually become swimming again," eight-time Beijing Olympics champion Michael Phelps said this week.

606: DEBATE
What is your view on the swimsuit debate?

"We're all going to have the same exact suit. It's not going be an issue."

The controversy began at the start of 2008 when swimmers began to wear the part-polyurethane Speedo LZR suits.

At the Beijing Olympics 23 of the 25 world records set were by swimmers wearing the new attire and by the end of the year 108 new world marks had been set by those wearing the suit.

Since swimmers began to wear the 100% polyurethane suits - the Jaked 01, Arena X-Glide and Adidas Hydrofoil to name but a few - 38 world records have fallen up to and including the second day of the World Championships.

Fina has yet to decide on what swimmers will be allowed to wear from the start of 2010.


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