Fina Swimsuit Rule Implemented at the Beginning of the Canadian Swimming Season

SNC Story

Ottawa, ON – Swimming Canada announced that effective September 1, 2009, all swimwear worn in swimming competitions sanctioned under the authority of Swimming Canada must conform to the January 1, 2010 Fina swimwear approval guidelines.

“We want our athletes to start the season on the right foot,” says Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach for Swimming Canada. “By implementing the rule in September, we are giving our athletes more time to adapt to the technology changes as they prepare for the big events this year.”

Lafontaine says that this rule will not apply to Canadian swimmers competing outside of Canada before the January 1st international deadline placed by Fina. “We do want our swimmers to compete in a fair playing field.”

This past summer, Fina, the governing body for International competitive swimming, announced new guidelines for competitive swimwear. The ruling came during the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Italy and includes the following specifications:

MATERIAL – The material of swimwear will definitively be constituted only by textile fabric(s). The FINA definition of “textile” currently is: “Material consisting of, natural and/or synthetic, individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting, and/or braiding.”

SHAPE – MEN: swimwear shall not extend above the navel or below the knee. WOMEN: swimwear shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below knee. No zippers or other fastening system is allowed.

USE – Swimmers shall wear only one swimsuit, taping is not permitted.

CONSISTENCY – Swimwear effectively manufactured and used shall correspond to and be fully consistent with FINA approved samples. Any modification before use (including impregnation) is prohibited. Moreover, there shall be no variation/modification for individual swimmers.

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