When the going gets tough, Phelps' coach starts crying

Well I'm back from sitting my boss's house for 10 days, and ready to do some solid blogging. You probably saw that Michael Phelps lost in the pool for the first time in about four years yesterday, also losing his world record in the 200 freestyle to a relatively unknown German swimmer, Paul Biederman. Biederman beating Phelps was shocking enough, but shattering his world record by 0.96 seconds was even more astounding. How was this no-name able to accomplish this feat--most people, including Biederman, are saying it was his swimsuit.

Biederman swam in a polyurethane Arena X-Glide full-body suit, while Phelps stuck with his Speedo LZR Racer. Biederman's swimsuit was better, no doubt about that, but the fact remains he still swam an incredible race. Phelps' swimsuit was the unstoppable one for a couple years, now this suit is the best because it is more buoyant so the swimmer encounters less resistance in the water. This might bother you, but not me, because it's legal within FINA's rules. FINA has acknowledged that the high-tech suits are getting a bit ridiculous and will outlaw them starting in 2010, which is great. What bothers me is Phelps's coach, Bob Bowman's reaction.

After the race, Bowman was quoted as saying, "We've lost all the history of the sport. Does a 10-year-old boy in Baltimore want to break Paul Biedermann's record? The sport is in shambles right now and they better do something or they're going to lose their guy who fills these suits."

Would you just quit whining, Bowman? In answer to your question, yes, a thousand times yes, a 10 year-old boy in Baltimore wants to break Paul Biederman's record. Every 10 year-old boy that likes sports wants to break all kinds of world records. Whether that will be possible because they will be racing with less technology on their side is a legitimate question, but it doesn't start with Paul Biederman and his Arena X-Glide. Michael Phelps' LZR Racer was just as revolutionary when it came out, and changed swimming. Phelps and Speedo are as much to blame for this problem as anyone else. And by the way, Bob, I wonder why you haven't been upset about these suits every time that Phelps has broken a world record (you know, a gazillion times these past Olympics)? By the way, he broke his world record in the 200 butterfly today, making me wonder if a 10 year-old boy from Boston wants to break that record (again, the answer is yes). Maybe Bowman is just a sore loser who is just a bit too used to winning.

Bowman wants to hold Phelps out of swimming meets until FINA does something faster. That is just sad. Phelps has the option to wear one of these suits for the next 5 months, and he'll go right back to dominating everyone. The fact that he is sticking with his "obsolete" swimsuit is admirable, but it does not give him or his coach the right to complain about it.