The Sweet Spot

As the meltdown continues over the fall of swimming world records in the eternal city, I couldn't help but notice the hypocrisy in certain sections of the Australian press.
 
"The Farce Suit" headlined one tabloid in relation to the controversial wafer-thin polyurethane outfits officially rubber stamped by FINA for the World Championships in Rome.
 
"11 World Records? Let's give them flippers too".
 
That may be well and good. However it's interesting to note that of the six new world record holders mentioned by the newspaper - not one of them was Australian.
 
This despite Queenslander Brenton Rickard being clad in one of the under fire "Jaked" outfits after smashing the 100 metres breaststroke world mark.
 
Our past Olympic greats, including Keiran Perkins have gone so far as to liken the situation to "technological doping".
 
It seems that's the case as long as an Australian didn't set a new world benchmark in one.
 
When that scenario arises, all we tend to here is how an Aussie pulled off  a magnificent swim in the pool.
 
Then there's the issue of allowing the swimsuits in the first place at the World Championships.
 
Personally, I think they shouldn't have been authorised. It's already set up a public relations nightmare with debate still raging over the legitimacy of allowing world records to stand in suits which will be banned next year.
 
However  there is one thing people have forgotten in this entire mess and that is, all swimmers in Rome were allowed access to the controversial outfits.
 
Wearing an Arena X-Glide suit, German Paul Biedermann smashed Michael Phelps' World record in the 200 metres freestyle.
 
A commentator hailed it "a win for technology".
 
Perhaps.
 
Maybe it was a win for stupidity given Phelps decided not to use the technology available.
 
And paid the price.