Comments please...

[Byron]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mclv9ilNyz1rtqi5no3_250.jpg

Am I misinterpreting here?
I see what may be Team USA divers wearing their speedos which I think are by Li Ning (Chinese brand) and if so that would be unusual would it not?

[sebbie]

The ASian style suits are a fun look that is new to most Americans, and they really show off the male physique to full advantage. The designs would be marketed here if Speedo thought there was an interest in them, and that American swimmers and divers were interested in going that way

[Swimmboy]

According to the USA Diving web site, Li-Ning is an 'official sponsor' of USA Diving, so that company probably supplies suits to the US Diving team which they are expected?/required? to wear at diving meets. I believe USA Swimming just ended their long-standing sponsorship with Speedo, and Arena now sponsors them, so expect to see many US swimmers in Arena suits at the World Championships in late July.

[Byron]

......all the information there to put me right.

World Aquatic Championships are in Barcelona 19th July to 4th August
(Dubai selected but they withdrew). Schedule here for all to note:
http://www.fina.org/H2O/docs/events/bcn2013/schedule_june4.pdf

[mrspeedo]

I'm Asian, so it would be natural for me to wear the Asian style speedo ;)

[shaulis]

Since USA swimming has new sponsors hopefully we will see actual briefs on the swimmers not jammers. I would imagine the swimmers will be able to choose from Speedo and Arena correct me if I am wrong about choice.

[Byron]

....certainly hope so (see post#11 on STS's Cool Photos). Might be a nice change not to see the word Adidas for once but the dreaded jammers will no doubt make an appearance with the swimmers somewhere).

[Swimmboy]

At the World Championships, most males will be wearing jammers for their races because they are, or are believed to be, faster. The fabric is slicker than human skin, so the more of your skin that is covered, the slicker you are. And the compression of the thighs helps prevent your thigh muscles from getting so tired (this was told to me by a U.S. college swimmer). Even brief-loving Ryan Lochte says he will wear jammers for races. Briefs are gone from major competitions - that's just the way it is. However, if you attend almost any US college meet in your area, most guys will be wearing briefs - for the most part, they only wear jammers during end-of-season conference or national (NCAA) championship meets.

[Byron]

This seems to go with discussion: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhizmqr1Xu1qgtxa9o1_500.jpg
Left: hot and very brief (and may be AUS) - how welcome
Right: (now banned) legsuit very low-slung and of GBR team.

[Byron]

I see that nobody has come up with an ID but I can now say (courtesy of Louis's observation) that these guys are team USA divers and synchro partners Nick McCrorey and David Boudea.
(DB of course having come out with a splendid Olympic Gold last year in the
individual 10m platform final)

[shaulis]

I must confess my eyes didn't leave the suits to look at their faces. I feel stupid for not realizing who was in the photo.

[Byron]

:) LOL - know exactly what you mean !
(a gossip website called homorazzi can
sometimes have interesting little snippets)

[shaulis]

I generally steer clear of the tabloid sites. All they cover now are the kardashiens (I could care less about them) and the latest drama bieber has committed ( I could care even less about him)

[Byron]

Had to do some checking of the unknown (to me) there.

The Kardashians is apparently a regular reality tv show where the daily lives of these family members are updated for viewers.

The Beiber guy sure seems to be frequently in trouble but I guess there's no such thing as bad publicity as the saying goes - and Forbes designates him as the third most powerful musical celebrity.
Sounds like a most irritating little brat and had all the little girls crying on his recent tour where he turned up two hours late for his gig - by which time the mummies and daddies had been obliged to take kiddies home to bed.
His travelling monkey has been confiscated in Germany I believe.

[PSDave]

its called commerce and marketing. The Chinese paid huge bucks -- more than Speedo, TYR or Arena were willing to pay--to have their suits on the Americans. Since US sports are largely funded by private donations, unlike many countries, the teams went for the bucks and not patriotism.

[Byron]

Sad but true . Another example : GB swimmers take a £4m cut in funding now - punishment for not coming up with impressive medals in 2012.

What does this do to the morale of the sportsmen? - can they feel to be anything more than a product on a supermarket shelf ?

[shaulis]

US athletes in all sports know starting from a young age that winning and money go hand in hand. I think the morale of athletes in the US is moot because they know winning equals money. Whether this line of rationale is right or wrong is another question.

[Byron]

:( Yes, just another branch of showbiz now I guess - I'd like to stick with Pierre De Coubertin but he's from a different century of course.

[Swimmboy]

I think athletes from almost any country know winning equals money - even the old Socialist countries awarded winners with nice homes, cars, etc., while almost any winner today can count on lucrative endorsement deals and advertising gigs. But I still believe most athletes in 'amateur' sports such as swimming compete for the sheer joy of swimming, and of being part of their summer league, high school, or college team. Last summer, US swimmer Missy Franklin was offered huge endorsement sums, but said she wanted to at least swim on a college team for a few years before going 'professional', so she rejected the offers and signed to swim for Cal-Berkeley. Good for her!

[Byron]

Yes indeed - a pity the poor Chinese guy didn't have the same option (the one on the rigourous state diving program who ended up in penury on the streets when it was decided he wouldn't make the grade).

[Byron]

Young USA diver I have seen before but cannot name. This time his suit has the blue front (I have noticed that those team suits would swap around on occasions between blue and red):
http://31.media.tumblr.com/d79a5f691fe8be943e41327d6741dd92/tumblr_moprjtdLJG1rtaxleo1_500.jpg

[sebbie]

A lot like the Aqux suits

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Aqux-ultra-low-waisted-male-swimming-trunks-sexy-tight-swimwear-triangle-swim-trunks-professional-line-swimming/837763436.html?s=p

[Byron]

I am not sure whether I follow this - is it a turn-inside-out feature for alternative wearing?
Nice suits and with WIDE crotch section (other designers take note !)

[sebbie]

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSteeleJohnson