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By Steven V. Selthoffer, Swimming World European correspondent
ROME, Italy, July 28. IF you don't think the new tech suits matter, read this. In the prelims of the women's 100m back this morning at the FINA World Championships, an Israeli swimmer was disqualified. She had tried on a new suit from a new manufacturer. She did her usual underwater dolphin kicks…and bam! She surfaced past the 20 meter mark. Surprise, surprise. Boom. Out. The tech suits have changed the game.
Now, with the new motion passed to eliminate them at the FINA Congress, to reduce the fabric cut, and return to textiles, the sport will return to standards in January 2010, better protecting the integrity of the sport.
Men's 200m Free
Phelps took the blocks with his usual arm swings and bent over body position. However, this was not Beijing. Beidermann had set a new world record in the men's 400m free earlier, and for Phelps, the only thing that really matters is London 2012, three years from now. Stepping up on the blocks in his off year, Phelps was out in his first 100 in a 50.25, just behind Biedermann, GER, in 50.12. Biedermann, one of the few bright spots in the German men's team, post-Thomsa Rupprath, is tapered, in shape and came to prove he is a force to be reckoned with. Biedermann looked strong the entire race.
Danila Izotov, RUS, was third at the 150, but, never challenged the top two of Biedermann and Phelps. Everyone was expecting Phelps to turn and burn the field at the 150 mark, but, it was just not to be today. Finishing behind Biedermann's outstanding new world record of 1:42.00, Phelps, in at 1:43.22, you have to wonder, if being "true to Speedo," didn't cost him the race. However, in the long run, in principle, loyalty was the right choice, verses the short-term gain of changing suit brands, for a single meet, in the face of discontinued use, five months from now.
Biedermann, GER, gracious in victory stated, "It's hard for me to believe that I defeated a legend like Phelps. Michael had congratulated me before the race (on my 400m free WR) and I thought, my only chance to win (the 200) was to put a lot of effort into the race. It's true, he has been training for only six months and he is not in the same shape as the Beijing 2008 Olympics. But, the German Team which I am a part of, is really great."
Danila Uzotov, RUS, said, "I am satisfied. I saw Michael (Phelps, USA) in front of me, but, I could not manage to get him. I didn't have enough stamina. Biedermann, GER, is extraordinary. He is the best. We are really close. Now we will keep on working."
Women's 100m Breast
Rebecca Soni, USA, clinched gold, with a 1:04.93 win. Second went to Yuliya Efimova, RUS, in 1:05.41, and Kasey Carlson, USA, finished third, in 1:05.75. Soni, in control from the start, brought it home the fastest with a 33.93 split deciding the race.
Women's 1500m Free
The crowd stood to attention as Alessia Filippi, ITA, moved from sixth place at the start to first at the 1000m mark to take the lead over Lotte Friis, DEN, in the women's 1500.
For Filippi, it was a masterful swim. Well calculated knowing her own strengths and weaknesses, and knowing the field, Filippi never relinquished the lead, and going into the final 100 was carried along by a delirious Italian crowd. The audience, screaming stroke for stroke, burst into jubilation as she touched in first at 15:44.93. Friis, DEN, was second at 15: 46.30 and Camelia Potec, ROU, was third at 15: 55.63.
Tomorrow will be more highlights, commentary and interviews, from the 13th FINA World Championships, live from Floro Italico, Rome, Italy…