The Speedo Image

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Originally Posted by PSDave

Mark Spitz pic was not in that group. If you're thinking the diver is Mark, it is not. Mark has never had that long hair and is not a diver. There were a couple good bods and a couple that had missed the gym a few times, but this too often represents what we see at the beach or pool

At first I thought it was Spitz, but then had the same thoughts as you. However, when Byron also determined it was him, I third guessed myself... at any rate, despite the long hair, which was probably the look at the time, as is the suit style, I think the guy looks great in the suit he has on.

[Byron]

http://www.forkparty.com/wp-content/...wi-580x577.jpg

I was about to apologise for misnaming and I did think where are the stars and stripes on the speedos if it is MS in '72?
There is a long-haired guy in mid-dive but I was not looking at him - I was looking at the hair, the tach, the teeth, the medal ????????????????????????

[Byron]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVC9S...eature=related

Freeze at 01.34 (and enjoy some of the speedos of forty years ago).

(he's worn well - looks very good today)

[Swimmboy]

None of those are Mark Spitz. At 1:20 in the 72 Olympics/Spitz video you see a handsome blond American introduced - that's Gary Hall, the father of future Olympic swimmer Gary Hall. Jr.!

[Byron]

since when did blond Gary Hall have a black tach ?

[Byron]

Time to bring this to an end I think:
Just do a web images search on "Mark Spitz Speedo" and you will see (twice) the same pic which appeared amongst the uglies in the first place.

"Confusion reigned and they all got wet" - not a very good joke but appropriate.

[PSDave]

I wouldn't call any of the guys ugly.( a couple actually look good in speedos) There is one though, the guy in the yellow g-string that is cinched in around his waist. That, to me, looks totally creepy! (not to mention painful!)I would, however, say that they are in need of either serious diet, exercise and/or a professional wardrobe consultant. It is unfortunate that when we look in the mirror we see what we want to see, or how we wish we looked. I know whenever I go shopping for speedos I always ask a friend to check me out wearing the suits and take a pic or two to see if they look as good as I think I do. (never ask the salesman, he may be on commission) Besides, shopping speedos with friends is more fun than doing it alone. My good friends will tell me -- "Dude! Not those speedos. You're not a model. Either get back in better shape or a different suit"

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Watching the vidoe from 1972 (See Byron post above), it is interesting to see how much more brief the traditional Speedo suit has become. In the early 90's, (late 80's) the suits got real brief with the paper suit era. After that, male competitive swim attire made a big shift the other way. Funny that when Jammers and the more technical swim suits came along, the briefs appear to have not moved back toward the wider side seams.

On a side note, it is cool that more and more younger swimming guys are moving back to briefs( in my observation), at least for practice.

[Swimmboy]

Just because a picture shows up in an internet search for 'mark spitz speedos' doesn't mean it's Mark Spitz - in just the first four rows of pictures I saw one of Greg Louganis and one of Michael Phelps......

Gary Hall is the guy in a white USA tee-shirt - don't see a black 'tache' on him, though the video is rather poor....

About 'brief' suits reappearing - they never really left. Nearly every collegiate swimmer in the US practices daily in a brief Speedo (or other brand suit). During the regular season, most also compete in brief suits, saving the jammers for the big end-of-season meets where they strive for best times to try and qualify for the NCAA championships. I can't even count the number of college meets I have attended over the past 20 years as both a fan and a stroke/turn judge - and the brief suits are always the dominant suit until the final one or two meets.

[Byron]

post#17 + post#18 - quite agree

post#19 - stupidly missing the point again - I am quite aware of what Gary Hall looks like (father AND son if you wish to be pedantic) but is there any other swimmer, and particularly one with seven medals from 1972, with a black moustache?? If you want to believe the pic was photoshopped so be it.

Btw, if you want to enjoy MS's sense of humor look up what he said to Russian swim coaches about the advantages of his lip covering.