It’s taken some time but I finally understand the appeal of the new full length speed suits that competitive swimmers are using. They have to be worn tight. Really tight. Ricky Berens on the U.S. team at the FINA World Championships in Rome was wearing his moments prior to racing in a relay and bent over for a drink of water. Suddenly he felt a draught. Thankfully for all of us, his team mate urged him to ignore the tear and just swim as there wasn’t time to change. Oh to have been his team mates or an official standing behind the blocks as he stood ready to dive.
Apparently the suits are tearing quite frequently because of how tight they are being worn. Now I’m just trying to picture someone doing one of those amazing backstroke starts, arching out of the water and…. RIP!















