AskMen.com posted an article by their fashion correspondent, Sachin Bhola, debating whether or not you should wear a speedo (I believe the lowercase form of the word has become synonymous with the actual product description of a brief) for leisure swimming.

Leave it to AskMen.com to make some obvious jokes about briefs and thongs, but it makes for entertaining reading. The discussion continues on the comment wall, where some swimmers weigh in to justify their speedo usage for training, while others denounce the idea of briefs completely.

Take a look at some of the comments:

nelroshennie says: “My name is Jamie, yes, I’m a guy, and I’m not afraid to wear speedos. If you don’t like what you see, then don’t look. If you DO like what you see, kudos to you.”

Florida native says: “They dry fast so you don’t end up with a rash on your ass on the way home in traffic from the beach…”

Woman’s Perspective says: “Men should not wear speedos ever, period. It doesn’t matter how good of a body you have, speedos are not attractive on any man. I understand why certain swimming sports require them for aerodynamics, but they are still very unattractive.”

Personally, I’m a big fan of going with a brief under a square leg drag suit. That way, you get less-noticeable tan lines while at the same time offering a little loose coverage. Plus, the drag suit basically advertises that you’re a competitive swimmer (or an undercover diver at the beach… shhh).

Also, just to be a stickler, I doubt swimmers wear tight suits for aerodynamics since they’re underwater–the term is hydrodynamics.

In CollegeSwimming.com’s week one coverage of Conference Central, “wardrobe malfunctions” are briefly mentioned regarding technical suits. Greg Earhart of CollegeSwimming.com told me that teams experiencing problems wanted to stay anonymous to avoid any negativity that might influence their relationship with vendors or sponsors.

Representing a competitive swimwear vendor, however, I thought it would be fitting to address this concern. I will also include more detailed instructions for getting into a speed suit, and recommendations for avoiding “wardrobe malfunctions.”

In one publicized case of swimsuit malfunction, Mark Foster of Essex, England, had his zipper pop on a Speedo LZR Racer right before his 50m Free in the British Olympic Trials. In this case, Foster stripped down to a legskin he was wearing underneath the LZR Racer and ended up qualifying for the Olympic Team. Source: The Guardian

In another case, Aussie flyer Jessicah Schipper had a problem with her zipper as she was due in the marshalling area for the 100m Fly finals. She went on to capture a bronze medal in the event with a time of 57.25. Schipper, when interviewed after the race, admitted her preparation had been badly disrupted by being forced to change into an older suit at the last moment. Source: The Canberra Times

In both these cases, the zipper was the culprit to the “malfunction.” However, Speedo product information, included with the purchase of a LZR Racer, warns for “styles with a zip, please ensure that the zip ‘teeth’ are correctly aligned when fastening the zip. Do not rush putting on the suit.”

Again, in the Speedo fitting video, special attention is paid to the zipper teeth alignment (to the extent that they recommend two additional helpers to zip the suit for the athlete, and a thorough examination of the zipper once it has been closed). If the zipper teeth are not aligned, then the product cannot perform as it was designed. This human error can lead to the zipper ‘popping’ open.

>>Continue reading: detailed fitting guidelines provided by Speedo.

This instructional video, made by Speedo, is a great resource for how to fit a speedsuit. As you can tell by the video, this process will take time to do correctly. View the video HERE or watch it below:

I’m working on a more extensive section about speedsuits and bodyskins, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section.

Mat Luebbers, of “Mat’s Swimming Blog” on About.com, posted an online poll asking readers “Will you change your swim habits to save money?” The results (show below) are somewhat surprising considering the level of concern over the economy these days.

Poll results from Mat’s Swimming Blog as of Feb. 4th 2009

Mat has written about the cost of swimming, and asks his readers to share their money-saving ideas. Well, Mat, I have some ideas of my own:

Plan ahead, buy in bulk. Whenever possible, try to plan ahead and buy several items that you know you will need in the future. Buying in bulk will usually get you a special discounted price from the retailers. For example, Kast-A-Way Swimwear is offering 4 women’s lycra suits for $100 for “grab bag” practice suits. (limited time offer)

“Grab Bag” items. These items are suits with out-of-print patterns that are perfectly good for practice suits. They might not be as fashionable as newer lines of suits, but they work just as well!

Keep an eye out for special discounts. Whenever items go on sale, they go quickly. I know all about this from first-hand experience working in a swimwear retail store. When special sales come along you need to act quickly! You can keep up with all of Kast-A-Way Swimwear’s special prices by joining the Frog-E Club for coupons sent directly to your e-mail.

Teach swim lessons. It’s not really a money-saving tip, but money-making. As a competitive swimmer, you have a skill that is worth money to others in the community. Whether you feel more comfortable teaching “learn to swim” classes, or advanced swimming stroke clinics, take what you know and offer it to others (for a price). You’ll be able to save up for that extra special championship speed suit in no time. Ask around at your local swim club or YMCA, you can often teach swim lessons without being officially hired on as a staff member.

What NOT to do: Steal things (duh). I hear about it more often than I should. Swimmers stealing from other swimmers. I know those new speed suits are expensive, and swimmers leave their bags out on deck at meets when they are warming-down or cheering for team mates. Swimmer-on-Swimmer crime is a tragedy. We should act like a community and support each other!

What NOT to do: Wear your speed suit into the ground. Speedsuits like the FS-II, FS Pro, TYR Tracer Light/Rise, and LZR Racer are only meant to be worn in championship swims. The manufacturers only recommend that these suits be worn for 7-10 swims (not 7-10 meets). Wearing your speed suit beyond that point is likely to negatively effect your performance. That full body speed skin you bought 2 years ago might as well be a sweatshirt and jeans because it will no longer repel water, and has stretched out signifficantly.

What NOT to do: Quit swimming. Swimming is a great sport, and can offer great benefits to participants. Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular work out, providing the benefits of reduced risk for heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure. Swimming also provides a social network and team environment to learn and enjoy teamwork, discipline, accountability, while making friends with similar interests.

As Mat mentioned in his original post:

“Whatever you do – if you do anything – remember that staying healthy is cheaper than getting sick. Maintaining your fitness routine to keep your good health should cost less than extra visits to the doctor.”

I hope these tips help those who are looking to save (or even earn) some extra money. Please post a comment if you come up with any other tips to share with our readers!

Alan Abrahamson, author of the Olympic Insider blog for NBC’s Universal Sports, recently posted an article entitled Michael Phelps apologizes (click HERE to read). I thought I’d use my own blog post as a response to this recent article, and further discuss possible legal implications of the now infamous Phelps bong photo.

The first effect the photo could have is on Michael Phelps’ millions of fans. He surely is a role model, but the current scandal could call parents to question how positive a role model he is. It will ultimately be up to each individual to decide how they view Phelps considering the recent news–however, the poll I referred to in a previous post still shows favorable numbers for the Olympian.

The next effect the photo could have is on Phelps’ sponsorship deals. Do his sponsors still want to use the Michael Phelps image to represent their products after the embarrassing and potentially illegal photo surfaced? According to an article in the Associated Press, at least two major sponsors support Phelps through his troubles. Speedo issued the following statement to the Associated Press:

“In light of Michael Phelps’ statement yesterday, Speedo would like to make it clear that it does not condone such behavior and we know that Michael truly regrets his actions. Michael Phelps is a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion. We will do all that we can to support him and his family.”

Ok so Speedo is still on board, what about Omega? The company seems to remain supportive of Phelps and what he stands for.

Omega said it was “strongly committed” to its relationship with Phelps, calling his Beijing accomplishments “among the defining sporting achievements in the history of sport. The current story in the press involves Michael Phelps’ private life and is, as far as Omega is concerned, a nonissue.”

Phelps appears to be in the clear as far as these two high profile sponsors are concerned. Now what about the sports’ governing bodies?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was quick to release a statement saying that they “have no reason to doubt [Michael Phelps'] sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model.” On the other hand the US Olympic Committee had mixed feelings, obviously reprimanding Phelps for the situation, but ending their statement with:

So governing bodies may be a little disappointed but certainly have little to say about legal implications. It doesn’t appear the IOC or USOC are planning to ban Phelps from any competitions–especially because Phelps “admitted” to the authenticity of the photos, not to smoking pot. I’m not sure how much Michael Phelps’ agent makes, but I’m sure it’s enough. And, with any high profile celebrity, Phelps has surely chosen his words carefully.

Finally, will there be any legal implications? The Associated Press reported that a spokesman for a sheriff in the Richland County sheriff

When I first heard the story, I was hoping that it was going to be a total fluke, a bunch of media hype that wouldn’t hold water. I am, of course, talking about the release of a photo published by United Kingdom’s News of the World in which Michael Phelps appears holding a bong pipe up to his mouth.

Is the only sports story that could have made news during Super Bowl Sunday going to blow over quickly for Phelps? Many official committees and sponsors have already weighed in with their reaction.

Here is an excerpt from the Associated Press coverage:

In a statement released Sunday, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Saturday by the tabloid News of the World.

News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. During that trip, he attended one of the school’s football games and received a big ovation when introduced to the crowd.

While the newspaper did not specifically allege that Phelps was smoking pot, it did say the pipe is generally used for that purpose and anonymously quoted a partygoer who said the Olympic champion was “out of control from the moment he got there.”

Reactions So Far
The US Olympic Committee was disappointed in Phelps behavior, but remain confident that Phelps will set a better example in the future. Read the official USOC Statement.

>> Check out the original article from News of the World.
(including the photo, if you really want to see it)

Swimming World Magazine gathered the following information, including a statement from USA Swimming and WADA:

USA Swimming has since released its own supportive statement regarding the situation:

We are certainly disappointed in Michael’s behavior. Our Olympic champions are role models who are looked up to by people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own aspirations and dreams.

That said, we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive way.

In further reporting by the Associated Press, WADA responded that marijuana usage is outside of its jurisdiction outside of the competition season:

Marijuana is viewed differently from performance-enhancing drugs, according to David Howman, executive director of the World Anti-Doping Agency. An athlete is subject to WADA sanctions only for a positive test that occurs during competition periods.

“We don’t have any jurisdiction,” Howman said. “It’s not banned out of competition. It’s only if you test positive in competition.”

Therefore, stringent rules regarding drug issues and a potential ban from future Olympics do not look to be in play in this situation.

The Aftermath?
It looks like a lot of people are willing to move on and accept Phelps’ apology. Christine Brennan of USA Today said “It will be days, perhaps even weeks, before we know the extent of the damage to Phelps’ endorsements and career,” and appears skeptical of Phelps’ promise that it will never happen again. Citing Phelps’ DUI in 2004, Brennan said “Four years later, there’s another mistake and another apology. You want to believe him, of course, because he’s Michael Phelps. But, sadly, now, you do have to wonder. “

Phelps’ fans will undoubtedly be split, but some sentiment so far seems to point in his favor.

Speedo released a statement yesterday calling Phelps “a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion.”

IOC spokeswoman Emmanuella Moreau said: “Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion. He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model.”

A poll on NBC’s Universal Sports page asked readers “Do you think less of Michael Phelps after his recent troubles?” The results, pictured below, seem to show support for Phelps.

A poll on NBC’s Universal Sports page shows strong support for Phelps as of Monday morning.

Outside of possible financial implications and un-likely eligibility consequences, accepting Michael Phelps’ apology will become a personal decision for every ‘Phelps phan’ to make.

Source: Swimming World Magazine, News of the World

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