Michael Phelps Loses to the Arena X-Glide Swim Suit

Michael Phelps lost an international swimming race for the first time in 4 years but the loss was not fair by a long measure. The new polyurethane swim suits are turning the Rome World Aquatic Championships are into a farce. Michael and his coach are so stinking mad that they are refusing to compete internationally until FINA bans the illegal swim suits once and for all. The picture to the right was taken from the Globe and Mail and speaks volumes. Michael Phelps is rightly upset.

However, lets be honest, the damage is done. World records have been smashed to smithereens in the past few days. Once the illegal swim suits have been banned these world records will continue to stand for years. Will FINA do the right thing and erase all of the world records attained by swimmers wearing the illegal swim suits? They should but I doubt it very much. FINA is giving it's blessing to cheaters and everyone who cares about the integrity of sport should be alarmed.

This year in Rome, it's not about the swimmers, the news high lights about the swim suits. How very sad for the swimmers. These new swim suits are faster, more high-tech and made of materials that trap air and allow for better buoyancy.

Michael Phelps's defeat came in the 200-metre freestyle event against Paul Biedermann from Germany. Michael was wearing the same Speedo LZR suit he wore at the Beijing Olympic Games while Biedermann wore one of the new full-body polyurethane suits.

After the loss, Michael was clearly upset and his coach was beside himself. Michael said he would finish his events at the world championships but would then withdraw from all international meets until “swimming gets back to swimming.” His coach, Bob Bowman couldn't agree more. He released a statement saying “My recommendation to [Phelps] is not to swim internationally until this is resolved.”

The issue of these illegal suits has been debated by the swim world and the swim authorities at FINA for the past year. In 2009, an extraordinary number of swimming world records have been smashed. An unbelievable 15 world records have been broken in just the first three days of the acquatic world championships. Michael was expected to lower his personal best time in the 200-metre freestyle but was easily handled by Biedermann who set a world-record of 1 minute 42 seconds.

Biedermann was wearing the same Arena X-Glide suit he wore days earlier when he lowering Ian Thorpe’s seven-year-old world record by 1.27 seconds. He basically admitted that he won and set records because of the new illegal swim suit. Beidermann spoke to reporters about his suit after winning his first gold medal saying smuggly: “FINA allowed it. It’s not my problem.”

The Speedo LZR suit was the water-shedding miracle swim suit that helped produce 108 world records in 2008. However, this swim suit was different and Speedo developed the swim suit with integrity. For example, Speedo worked with FINA to ensure that its suit didn’t float or provide extra assistance to the swimmers. Speedo did not want their swim suit to provide an unfair advantage. Arena, Adidas and Jaked wanted to get on the bandwagon and they began producing new innovative swim suit designs. However Arena, Adidas and Jaked forgot that sport is about fair play and swimming championships should reward the fastest swimmer.

These new suits are designed to be better than swimming naked. They reduce drag and stabilize muscles for a distinct advantage. Most illegally, these swim suits float!! FINA agreed yesterday to impose a ban on these illegal swim suits. This new ban will ensure that all swim suits are made of textiles (still to be defined by FINA). The suits will not be allowed to have zippers or fasteners and athletes cannot wear two suits at the same time. There can also be no custom modifications to any suit.

However without explanation, FINA officials stunned the swimming world by saying the ban wouldn’t be enforced until next April or May. I'm sure there is some collective head scratching going on. What's the point in delaying the ban?

Michael's coach wasn’t happy to hear that the ban would be delayed a year as the ban was originally set to begin on Jan. 1, 2010. Bowman angrily sputtered “I want swimming to go back to racing. This move to April is unacceptable,” he said. “You can’t trust what they say. It might be never"

The German Biedermann's performances at the world championships have been liken to “technological doping.” In smashing Thorpe’s 400-freestyle record Biedermann posted a 6.5-second improvement in just 12 months. When asked about Biedermann's eye popping improvement Michael Phelps said: “Usually you don’t see 6 seconds dropped in the 400 in a year. I think he was in the final of the 200 free last year [in Beijing] and he’s dropped like three seconds in that, so he’s having a good meet.”

The illegal-swim suit assault on swimming’s world record book has drawn the disgust of many observers. Britain’s national performance director Michael Scott sarcastically predicted 99 per cent of swimming’s world records will set in Rome. In an unusual act of protest, the French sports newspaper L’Equipe is not reporting any world mark set in Rome if it involves the use of an illegal swim suit. American and Australian coaches have suggested that the new records are “a joke”. It sounds like poor Beidermann might end up like Milli Vanilli-splashy but quickly seen as a farce and then just as quickly forgotten.

For the sake of the integrity of competitive swimming the Jaked swim suit and the polyurethane Arena X-Glide swim suit should be banned immediately. Swimmers with integrity will refuse to wear these illegal swim suits and Michael Phelps will be welcomed back to international swimming.

Michael Phelps Wears Surf Shorts Swim Suit

Michael Phelps is wearing a different sort of swim suit these days. We think it looks great. I looked at this picture for a long time thinking something was amiss. It took me a while to figure out it was the swim suit. I have seen loads of pictures of Michael Phelps in a Speedo or other racing swim suit but I rarely see him in swim trunks or surf shorts.

Maybe it's me but Michael looks even better in this type of swim wear. Of course, he always has an amazing physique and a swimmer's body. However, he know seems to look more muscular than ever. His shoulders look a bit broader. I realize this might be an optical illusion as the shorts act to lengthen his torso. (Update: I have just read that he gained 15 pounds during his 6 month break from swimming)

One thing is apparent from the picture, swimming is a great way to increase your fitness, build muscles and shape your body. Swimming is a good muscular work out and is also a fantastic aerobic work out. If you are thinking about getting into shape, think about adding a few weekly swimming work outs to your fitness regime.

Michael Phelps looks great in a Speedo swim suit but he also looks pretty great in surf shorts. It's nice to see Michael taking part in some healthy activities in his spare time. Since the Olympic games, in which Michael Phelps dominated the swimming events, he has been photographed in bars and at parties, etc, etc. Seeing this picture of Phelps playing football on the beach is a real breath of fresh air. Good work Michael, but don't hurt yourself or twist an ankle on the beach. Remember the Rome Aquatic World Championships are just around the corner.

This site is full of pictures of Phelps in small speedo swim suits. I am pleased to include a picture of Michael Phelps in a different sort of swim suit for your viewing pleasure.

Michael Phelps at Rome Swimming World Championships

Michael Phelps is at peak fitness and has a closet full of new tiny swim suits and they are both going on a trip. Phelps is taking his speedo swim suit and he is getting on a plane to Italia.

Swimming star Michael Phelps also has a secret and he is taking it to the pool. Phelps already has 14 Olympic and 17 world championship gold medals in his collection but he wants more.

According to the wearer of the smallest swim suit known to mankind, he has unfinished biz at the swimming world championships which start this Sunday. The nature of this unfinished business is a secret known only to Phelps and his coach. Beloved Debbie Phelps is not privy to what his specific swimming goals might be. Apparently throughout his fabulous swimming career, Michael jots down his goals and mails them to his coach. His coach then helps him reach his goals.

"When I retire I want to be able to look back at my career and say I did everything I wanted to do," Michael said at the recent U.S. world trials. "I still have times I want to hit, I still have other personal goals I want to achieve before I quit the sport. I've been writing my goals on a piece of paper and mailing them to Bob for 13 years now."

I suppose that Phelps fans everywhere might get a glimpse at his new swimming goals at the end of this month. At the world championships Phelps will focus on the shorter swimming events as he continues his transformation from an all-rounder swimmer to sprinter.

At the 2007 world championships in swimming, Phelps took home seven gold medals. Now he appears to be working part time. This time around he has set himself much more modest, even leisurely, objectives. In Rome he will swim in only three individual events -- the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m butterfly.

There were rumors that swim suit clad Michael Phelps lacked motivation following his record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games. There were also rumours that he had been reckless with his fitness regime. He smashed those rumours in epic fashion at the U.S. Swim Nationals by destroying the 100 butterfly world record.

His display at the U.S. Swim Nationals confirmed he was back to full fitness after a six month layoff the Beijing Olympic Games. Sadly, that hiatus included a three-month suspension from USA Swimming when he was snapped inhaling from a bong.

During his time away from swimming Phelps gained nearly seven kilograms or 15.5 pounds and contemplated an early retirement. It was good news to all of us when he decided to seek more gold and glory (and sponsorship money) at the 2012 London Olympics.

Fingers are crossed for Phelps to be at peak fitness in the coming weeks. I will be sure to watch Phelps and his tiny swim suit as he swims his way to glory at the Rome World Championships.

Michael Phelps Came Second in Swimming

Oh dear, Michael Phelps came second in a swimming race for the first time in over a year. This is just as the summer swim season heats up and the world championship swimming contest looms in the near future.

Yesterday, while competing in the Charlotte UltraSwim swim meet in North Carolina, the multi Olympic gold medalist and best swimmer in the world came second in the 100-meter backstroke to swimmer Aaron Peirsol! Michael Phelps was trailing by half a second at the turn and just could not make up the difference.

Peirsol finished the backstroke race in 53.32 seconds while Michael Phelps took a relatively disappointing 53.79 seconds to cover the 100-metres. Less than half a second might not sound like much but it is a good half body length. Not that coming scond to Peirsol is any great disgrace. Currently, the world record in this event is owned by Peirsol. He set this swimming record in the heats of the Beijing Olympic games at a blistering 52.54 seconds. Peirsol was wearing his new Arena swim suit. There was no word on the swim suit worn by Phelps.

Frankly, I see this as a good thing for Michael Phelps. No swimmer or any athlete at all can win all of the time. Having a challenge or a challenger can be a huge motivator. I hope this shakes the tiny speedo swim suit wearer out of complacency and into serious training mode. If he wants to maintain his status as the current reigning swimming world superstar he needs to stop acting like a drink-addled celebrity and start focusing on his swimming training. He might want to ditch the distracting girlfriend to boot.

The 2012 London Olympic Games are only three years away. Michael Phelps has said he wants to be there and presumably he wants to match the success he had in Beijing. If he does in the 2012 London Olympic Games what he did in Beijing he will cement his status as the best swimmer in the world for his lifetime.

Michael Phelps continues to be the best swimmer in the world. He now might have to put some more time into wearing his swim suit.

Michael Phelps Mother Reveals All - Debbie Phelps Book 'A Mother For All Seasons'

Mamma Phelps is finally talking!

Debbie Phelps' upcoming memoir, A Mother for All Seasons, tackles the highs and lows of her son Michael Phelps' career littered with scandal!

Mamma Phelps' reaction to 'Bong-Gate' when her Olympic winning son was caught on camera takin' a hit of some of the good shiz?

"Déjà vu all over again," Debbie lamented.

To refresh your memory, our favorite swimming sensation Michael Phelps was arrested in 2004 for driving drunk when he was only 19 years old.

"It was unreal - like something out of a horror movie - with TV clips of jail cell doors slamming ominously shut, dooming the life and career of one golden boy turned loser," she recalled of her son's DUI.

"He actually had tried to get someone else to drive after he had a few drinks… Apparently someone in the crowd made a crack about not giving the keys to his brand-new Range Rover to someone else," Debbie revealed.

Peer pressure, eh?

Unfortunately, not a valid excuse!

Momma Phelps was distressed over Michael's "disappointing, uncharacteristic behavior" of the toke seen around the world, but she laid the blame on herself when it came to his 2004 arrest.

Debbie concluded, "I was sure that I could have done something to better prepare Michael to make better choices."

Don't blame yourself, honey!

You will have to accept sooner or later, your son is not quite the "golden boy" that you see him as!

Michael Phelps - Bonged

Well, it's official - Michael Phelps and his Speedo will be a bit drier in the next 3 months. As of February 5th, Michael Phelps was suspended from swimming competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic superstar sucking on a big bong.

The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.

It turns out that Michael didn’t break any anti-doping rules but the governing body decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero.

Michael was dumb to put himself in a situation where he might be photographed doing something dumb. But I don’t think he should be punished by USA Swimming for just being dumb. He is after all the best competitive swimmer in the world!

Earlier on the same day, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg." You might remember that a nearly naked Micheal Phelps appeared on the company's cereal boxes after his competitive swimming Olympic triumph.

Tiny Speedo man has acknowledged "regrettable" behaviour and "bad judgment."
The 23-year-old Phelps has resumed intensive swimming training in his hometown of Baltimore, near our lovely Debbie Phelps, but his plans to return to competitive swimming will have to be put on hold. Phelps had planned to compete in early March at a Grand Prix meet in Austin, Texas. Oops! He now won't be racing until early May. This gives our boy with the tiny swimsuit a little more than two months to prepare for July's world championships in Rome.

After serving his time, Micheal Phelps would be able to compete at a May meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in another Grand Prix competition in Santa Clara, California in June. The U.S. team for Rome World Championships will be chosen at the national championships, which begin on July 7th.

To add insult to injury Michael Phelps coach was quoted as saying "He's been very good in practice, I think he feels good to be back in the water. Certainly, he's not in very good shape.” Yikes, July isn’t that far away!

So, just to keep your spirits up, I'm including just about my favorite almost nude Michaeal Phelps picture. (I hope I'm not double posting)

Michael Phelps Bong

(I know- this isn't a Michael Phelps nude picture, but I'm trying to add some editorial credibility to my Michael Phelps naked blog. Yaaa, just kidding :-) I couldn't be literary if I tried, I'm only in it for the pictures. But even though it lacks the typical swimsuit content, I did feel that I needed to post this pic and my own commentary.)

Oh oh ... our golden boy, eight time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps seems to have been caught red handed ... or shall we say red bonged. Over the weekend, The British 'News of the World' tabloid published this picture of Michael Phelps smoking a bong at a November 6th (2008) student party at the University Of South Carolina in Columbia . He showed up unannounced at a house party, and as the story goes, spent the entire weekend partying pretty hard.

There is so much controversy over this story, I can't help but wonder how poor Michael is doing. I thought his statement to the press over the incident -

I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me.

was suitably repentent. I just hope that the powers that be won't try to set an example of Mike, and don't take things to such an extreme that the spectacular swimming career of my favorite cutie is tarnished beyond recovery. Let's hope that it all blows over (yes, that's a pun) and is left in the past the same way that his young and foolish DUI incident seems to have been.

I think it's important to note that the famous swimmer had previously taken 1,500 drug tests and never failed one - it's too bad that people are so jealous or desperate that they publicize these sorts of things to the tabloids. It would be sad to think that a bit of celebrating in the off-season, with an activity that is certainly widely accepted, would ruin the reputation and financial success of any individual. Let's hope all goes well for our favorite swimmer Michael Phelps.