FINA will not be changing their equipment rules before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, but at their Bureau meeting in Budapest they did agree to make the necessary changes beginning in September.
The changes that will be put into place in September will be in order to protect athletes from cold water during open water swims. The following changes are listed below:
- The lowest possible temperature of the water should remain at 16°C
- Between 16°C and 18°C wetsuits + bathing cap are mandatory
- Between 18°C and 20°C, wetsuits are optional
- Over 20°C, wetsuits are not allowed
While the rule changes bring to light some positivity in the idea of athlete protection, they will not be in effect at the Rio Olympics.
FINA stated that together with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee they will, “take all necessary measures to ensure the maximum possible levels of security and safety for all athletes in the men’s and women’s 10km races.”
According to www.watertemperature.org, which monitors the temperature of the water at Copacabana (the site for open water swimming at the Games), the average water temperature during the month of August is 20.8°C. Although the new FINA ruling won’t be in effect, those temperatures would comply with the no wetsuits rule.
SwimVortex.com reported that the temperatures in the water will likely be below 18°C which would warrant the use of wetsuits to protect athletes if the new rules were in place.
If the water is indeed that cold, there is no concrete evidence what the “necessary measures” put into place by FINA and the Rio Organising Committee to ensure athlete protection will be.
All the competitors who have already qualified for Rio did so in 10km swims without a wetsuit. They train both their bodies and mind to swim quickly, efficiently, to feed if nceassary and acclimatise to the cool water. Amateur swimmers, hobby swimmers if you prefer, to qualify to swim the English Channel in a relay team swim for 2 hours in standard swim wear, hat and goggles. Hundreds every year make this swim. This FINA decision is not abut safety. 16C water is not cool for trained swimmers. Come clean explain this decision