Enhanced Games Swimmers Embrace Banned 'Super Suits' in Controversial Competition
Enhanced Games swimmers are wearing illegal ‘super suit’ banned by World Aquatics in 2010
Image: Hitc
The Enhanced Games, set to occur on May 24, 2023, allows swimmers to use polyurethane 'super suits' banned by World Aquatics since 2010. This event challenges traditional sports by permitting performance-enhancing technologies and substances, contrasting sharply with Olympic swimming regulations that restrict both materials and methods.
- 01The Enhanced Games permits the use of polyurethane 'super suits,' which were banned by World Aquatics in 2010 due to concerns over unfair advantages.
- 02The Speedo LZR Racer, a notable example of the banned suits, was worn by athletes who set 23 of the 25 world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- 03Current Olympic swimming regulations restrict men's suits from extending above the navel or below the knee, and women's suits cannot cover the neck, shoulders, or go past the knee.
- 04Organizers of the Enhanced Games claim that sourcing original banned suits has been difficult, leading to the creation of custom-made alternatives for participants.
- 05The Enhanced Games aims to create a spectacle by removing boundaries on both technology and substances, contrasting with the stricter regulations of Olympic swimming.
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The Enhanced Games, scheduled for May 24, 2023, is set to challenge the norms of traditional sports by allowing athletes to utilize performance-enhancing technologies, including polyurethane 'super suits' that have been banned since 2010 by World Aquatics, previously known as FINA. These suits, which were linked to a significant increase in world records prior to their prohibition, provide advantages such as reduced drag and increased buoyancy. The Speedo LZR Racer is a notable example, having been worn by swimmers who set 23 of the 25 world records during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In contrast to Olympic swimming regulations, which restrict suit materials and coverage, the Enhanced Games embraces these technologies to create a unique spectacle. Current Olympic rules limit men's suits to below the navel and above the knee, while women's suits cannot cover the neck or go past the knee. Organizers have noted challenges in sourcing original super suits, prompting the creation of custom alternatives for the event, further emphasizing the deliberate departure from traditional sporting regulations.
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The Enhanced Games' acceptance of banned technologies may influence perceptions of fairness and integrity in competitive sports, potentially affecting athletes and fans alike.
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