Michael Phelps loses a race
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So Michael Phelps (United States) lost the race and his WR in the 200m Freestyle to Paul Biedermann (Germany).
Wow, sometimes I am really ashamed of the United States. The Olympic Committee of the United States as well as Phelps' agent and coach are trying everything in the book to blame it on cheating that the fact that Phelps was just out swam.
The whole controversy stems from a new polyurethane swimsuit that Biedermann was wearing. Some have called it a "swimsuit on steroids." Phelps' coach as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee is calling for an immediate ban of the swimsuit, and Phelps' coach is going as far to say that he'll have Phelps drop out of all future swimming competitions if FINA doesn't ban them immediately. The suit will be barred from competition by the end of this swimming season, but they are demanding it be banned immediately. Some are even saying that Biedermann should forfeit his medal and the results of his race be disqualified.
It's pathetic. "Oh boohoo, Perfect Phelps lost a race. Wah!" I mean God, we are want to blame everything imaginable on Phelps losing because apparently Phelps can't simply be out swam. I'm really ashamed, and I can only imagine how other countries, especially Germany, think about the United States' childish attitude towards this.
I'm sure that if Phelps wasn't already endorsed by Speedo, and if he could wear that swimsuit there wouldn't be anyone bitching about it. -_-
Wow, sometimes I am really ashamed of the United States. The Olympic Committee of the United States as well as Phelps' agent and coach are trying everything in the book to blame it on cheating that the fact that Phelps was just out swam.
The whole controversy stems from a new polyurethane swimsuit that Biedermann was wearing. Some have called it a "swimsuit on steroids." Phelps' coach as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee is calling for an immediate ban of the swimsuit, and Phelps' coach is going as far to say that he'll have Phelps drop out of all future swimming competitions if FINA doesn't ban them immediately. The suit will be barred from competition by the end of this swimming season, but they are demanding it be banned immediately. Some are even saying that Biedermann should forfeit his medal and the results of his race be disqualified.
It's pathetic. "Oh boohoo, Perfect Phelps lost a race. Wah!" I mean God, we are want to blame everything imaginable on Phelps losing because apparently Phelps can't simply be out swam. I'm really ashamed, and I can only imagine how other countries, especially Germany, think about the United States' childish attitude towards this.
I'm sure that if Phelps wasn't already endorsed by Speedo, and if he could wear that swimsuit there wouldn't be anyone bitching about it. -_-
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Here are a few thoughts:
The fact that Michael Phelps losing a race is so big just goes to show exactly how dominant he has come to be.
Secondly, new swimsuit technology is problematic for swimming, though this incident isn't necessarily a good example of how to handle it well from a PR standpoint. Over the last few years, these suits have really made a difference. Previously mediocre(at least from a world championship level of competition) swimmers have broken world records. Having a high tech swimsuit makes you go a lot faster. This is pretty much fact, and we've seen it happen numerous times.
This leads to two problems. First, these suits are obscenely expensive. Even as high as Olympic level competition, this is going to be a problem for some people. Plenty of nations have enough issues that they cannot afford to spend heaps of money on something like high tech swimsuits. Money already makes a big difference in terms of being able to access facilities, afford coaching, and condition, and such. Still, even with these things, one has to take advantage, hit the pool, work on form, and train hard to get results. With the new suits, you just put them on and you are more aquadynamic, faster, and get better results. And with the cost assuring that not everyone can have them, it simply adds a way to buy a significant advantage that really requires no work on the part of the swimmer.
The other problem is the idea of a swimsuit arms race. As long as there is demand, and there is, companies will keep researching and building better and better suits. This idea of a technology race in general might be fine for something like motorcar racing, in which the construction and tuning of the car are supposed to be significant parts of the competition, but swimming is supposed to be about human athletic prowess. If the contest becomes just as much about who has the latest and best technology that will allow them to shave another second off their time versus who doesn't, it dilutes that idea of human athletic prowess.
FINA has realized these things, which is why they have set a schedule for a ban. I think it's very possible that Phelps is right: Biedermann's suit does increase his speed, even compared to the LAZR. Maybe he would look like less of a baby if he just took it in stride, waited for the ban, and then proved himself right by winning the next race. But then again, you don't win 8 gold medals in one Olympic games without being a competitor and having an obsessive desire to push your limits and always win everything. Unfortunately for Phelps, in this case, this is causing him to make himself look immature.
The fact that Michael Phelps losing a race is so big just goes to show exactly how dominant he has come to be.
Secondly, new swimsuit technology is problematic for swimming, though this incident isn't necessarily a good example of how to handle it well from a PR standpoint. Over the last few years, these suits have really made a difference. Previously mediocre(at least from a world championship level of competition) swimmers have broken world records. Having a high tech swimsuit makes you go a lot faster. This is pretty much fact, and we've seen it happen numerous times.
This leads to two problems. First, these suits are obscenely expensive. Even as high as Olympic level competition, this is going to be a problem for some people. Plenty of nations have enough issues that they cannot afford to spend heaps of money on something like high tech swimsuits. Money already makes a big difference in terms of being able to access facilities, afford coaching, and condition, and such. Still, even with these things, one has to take advantage, hit the pool, work on form, and train hard to get results. With the new suits, you just put them on and you are more aquadynamic, faster, and get better results. And with the cost assuring that not everyone can have them, it simply adds a way to buy a significant advantage that really requires no work on the part of the swimmer.
The other problem is the idea of a swimsuit arms race. As long as there is demand, and there is, companies will keep researching and building better and better suits. This idea of a technology race in general might be fine for something like motorcar racing, in which the construction and tuning of the car are supposed to be significant parts of the competition, but swimming is supposed to be about human athletic prowess. If the contest becomes just as much about who has the latest and best technology that will allow them to shave another second off their time versus who doesn't, it dilutes that idea of human athletic prowess.
FINA has realized these things, which is why they have set a schedule for a ban. I think it's very possible that Phelps is right: Biedermann's suit does increase his speed, even compared to the LAZR. Maybe he would look like less of a baby if he just took it in stride, waited for the ban, and then proved himself right by winning the next race. But then again, you don't win 8 gold medals in one Olympic games without being a competitor and having an obsessive desire to push your limits and always win everything. Unfortunately for Phelps, in this case, this is causing him to make himself look immature.
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Tsurayu wrote...
sometimes I am really ashamed of the United States. I'm really ashamed, and I can only imagine how other countries, especially Germany, think about the United States' childish attitude towards this.
I don't care how much they say he represents the US, he is not the US. Don't be ashamed for his bullshit. If people from germany start thinking of the US as childish because of Phelps, then they're simply dumbasses.
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Wow.... they really are making it too much of a big deal (a loss is a loss, get over it!! Not like the world is gonna end just yet from a loss in a 200m Freestyle competition), I would be asking, what is Phelps doing about this (So far I'm reading about the coach and committee, but not Phelps himself.). (Overall, I agree with you Tsurayu)
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The only comment I've seen Phelps make was in an interview after the race where he said he does believe that the suit made Biedermann a faster swimmer, but he admitted that he was just out swam. I think he was trying to save his image and make it look like his coach was the bad guy, which is probably the best decision he can make.