Swimming is underway at the Water Cube, and something is missing. On the starting blocks for Larsen Jensen’s 400m freestyle heat there wasn’t a square foot of visible flesh between the eight athletes. This is unacceptable. In the name of advanced technology and faster times swimmers are dawning full body outfits that would have the ancient Greeks rolling in their graves. (Mercifully, the divers are sticking to tradition - toned bodies in tiny trousers. The genius lies in the simplicity.)
I consider myself a devout sports fan, but these LZR suits have me questioning my fandom. Instead of enjoying heat after heat of preliminary events, I find myself wondering: Am I a true sports fan who happens to be gay, or am I just a gay sports fan who wants to see some skin? Would you rather see a technology-aided world record or eight topless bodies?
By Ryan Quinn
4 responses so far ↓
1 Jim Buzinski // Aug 9, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I have jokingly written about the lack of skin, but I do think these suits give an advantage over those not wearing them. Swimmer’s out there — tell me why everyone in the same Speedo-type suit and nothing else would not be the purest way to decide an event?
2 Jim Buzinski // Aug 9, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Now I’m a bit confused — just watched Phelps destroy the field and WR to win the 4×100 IM and he was not wearing a full-body suit, as was the case with most of the swimmers. I am curious as to why since the LZR suit was so touted.
3 Sean Smith // Aug 10, 2008 at 3:19 am
That is exactly what I have been trying to say for so long. The people with the talent and hard work behind them are still going to be the ones on top. The suit is just something extra that can help, but the world records are being broken because of the body, not the suit. As for the suit covering up the flesh…Ryan I have a hard time thinking you wouldn’t have done the same if it were available for skiing when you were competing. I’m glad to sacrifice the “sexiness” for what I think will be the absolute fastest that anyone can swim right now.
4 golfer // Aug 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm
This argument is a bunch of crap. The Olympics are about going faster, not about providing eye candy for gay men. And as Jim noted, Phelps didn’t even wear the full suit. The LZR is not “ruining” anything.
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