I mentioned a while back that USA swimming had banned the super suits. Now they’ve issued guidelines for an acceptable suit. There is a list of suits that were submitted to and approved by FINA, the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming.

Besides the specific suits on the list, USA swimming has ok’d a vaguer group of suits, ‘older suits.’ Older suits fit these criteria:

1. Swimsuits for men may not extend above the navel or below the knee and for women may not cover the neck, or extend past the shoulders or below the knee;

2. Material used for swimsuits can be only textile material which is defined as materials consisting of natural and/or synthetic, individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting, and/or braiding. Simply put, this would generally refer to suits made only from nylon or Lycra that do not have any rubberized material such as polyurethane or neoprene; and

3. No zippers or other fastening devices are allowed except for a waist tie on a brief or jammer.

But, not so fast, older suits! You’re ok for competition, but not for setting records or qualifying for international events. You’ll need to have a FINA approved suit for those events. Same thing goes for National records, etc.

So, to be safe, check and re-check the list.

I wonder how long the new records, made with the super suit will hold in this new medieval realm of swimsuit. Time will tell.