The German swimming federation, the DSV, has issued a statement that effectively ends its relationship with adidas in the most official way yet.
In what it calls a "pro-athlete" statement of support for swimmers two weeks out from the world championships in Rome, the DSV tells its team: wear what you want.
President of the DSV, Christa Thiel, in a u-turn to where she stood lat year, states: "We are fully aware that this will cost the federation a massive amount of money but out of solidarity with the sport we will do it [allow anything to be worn]."
The irony of the DSV's confirmation of the loss of funds from adidas is that it coincides with the appearance of the Hydrofoil suit that is likely to be one of the "better" or "worse" suits (depending on your point of view) on show in Rome next month.
"We have come to the conclusion that in 2009 it is not appropriate to commit ourselves to one sponsor," says Thiel. "It does not mean that we would not commit to a partner in 2010." Events in 2009 and the results at its national championships last week helped the DSV make up its mind.
Under current circumstances, it is the best a federation can do for its swimmers. But it would, of course, have been good to hear from the DSV that they would like to see an end to all this chaos of confusion and the end of suits that skew performance, make for an unlevel playing fields and are destined to plunge the sport further into life as an equipment-based sport in which he achievements of athletes are diminished and governance of the sport is effectively handed over to suit makers, some of whom have no grasp on swimming, the nature of swimming and are in the race pool for one reason: to make money.
A fair few heading for election to the new FINA Bureau in Rome are already wedded to the cause of ridding the sport of "fast suits". The question is: how bold will they be, how much have they understood about their responsibility to prize the performance of athletes in standardised, fair, race conditions about ALL other things.
Thiel concludes with this: "We prefer a solution in which we find a pool of sponsors and will therefore hold talks with equipment suppliers. We invite suit makers to contribute with their experience."
The value of that depends on what "experience" means. If it means making devices that aid speed, buoyancy and endurance then such experience is worthless. The role of the suit maker is to make a suit that plays a part in helping a swimmer realise his or her maximum natural potential with skills honed through hard work. The moment the suit gets beyond that and one suit serves some more than others, swimming is sunk. Right now, the sport is gasping for air, as FINA will doubtless come to realise in Rome.
