USA Swimming body suit definition for U.S. Olympic Team Trials
COLORADO SPRINGS-In response to a request by the USA Swimming Board of Directors, the USA Swimming Steering Committee has today released a definition of the full body suit for the purpose of clarifying what will be disallowed at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials for Swimming.
USA Swimming's Full Body Suit Definition: A full body suit or costume is one that extends below the knees or covers any part of the arms. Athletes will not be permitted to use a full body suit or costume at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming. All other suits that comply with FINA and USA Swimming rules will be acceptable.
On June 22, the Board of Directors, which consists of athletes, coaches, officials and other leaders in the sport, voted to disallow the use of the full body suits at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials by a vote of 16-3.
"The Board voted to disallow the full body suits at Trials out of concern for fairness to all participants," said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming's Executive Director. "The Board had a real concern that not enough of the full body suits would be readily available to all Trials' swimmers in a reasonable amount of time prior to the event. The definition developed by the Steering Committee clarifies to our athletes what suit styles will be allowed at Trials, which includes use of the suit styles which have been widely available and used in a variety of competitions for at least two years."
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for swimming are Aug. 9-16 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Over 1,300 athletes are expected to attend.
USA Swimming will allow its athletes to wear the full body suits in competition at the Olympic Games. |
