2009年罗马世界游泳锦标赛可以说是把“更快”的五环精神发挥到了极致。世界泳坛从来没有像本次世锦赛这样“疯狂”,选手们破世界纪录如探囊取物。据统计,本届世锦赛总共有43人次打破世界纪录,40个比赛项目只有9个项目的世界纪录没有被打破。原因何在?人们都把矛头指向了高科技泳衣。有评论认为高科技泳衣的出现,使游泳脱离了原先的传统概念,成为了高科技实力的竞争。高科技泳衣究竟有何魔力?在200米自由泳比赛中遭遇滑铁卢的“飞鱼”菲尔普斯又是作何感想呢?
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The records have been falling at the Swimming World Championships in Rome. But who should get the 1)credit, the swimmers or the swimsuits they’re wearing? The 2)controversy was sparked when Michael Phelps lost the 200-meter freestyle and his world record to a
3)virtually unknown German swimmer who was wearing the latest in high-tech suit design. Some say these suits give swimmers an unfair advantage, so 4)FINA, the sport’s world governing body, has done a 5)flip-turn and will ban certain performance-enhancing body suits sometime next year.
Hostess: We’re taking a look at different perspectives on the issue that’s making waves in the swim world. First, ABC correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi explains just how these suits are believed to give swimmers an edge.
Alfonsi: The suit is called the 6)Arena X-Glide. It’s made of 7)polyurethane, is 8)buoyant, and said to help a swimmer float, so all their energy is used to move them forward, not just stay up in the water. And because it traps more air, it’s considered faster than the 9)Speedo suit Phelps wears.
Hostess: British swimmer Jo Jackson wears a super suit and likes it. Interviewed by the BBC, Jackson says it’s training, not technology that’s the difference between winning and losing.
Jackson: Whatever happens next year we just have to get on with it, put the suits on, and just as long as you’ve done the hard work you know that you’ll do well.
Hostess: In the post-race interview broadcast by
10)Deutsche-Welle radio, Phelps said he was beaten by a man, not a swimsuit, still…
Phelps: It’s changed the sport completely. The headlines are always “who’s wearing what suit,” it’s not swimming, and, you know, I’m looking forward to the day that, you know, we’re able to call our sport swimming again.
Hostess: Maybe Phelps isn’t blaming the suit for his loss, but according to CNN’s Carol Costello, his coach, Bob Bowman, is.
Costello: Phelps’ coach is really angry at this. Bob Bowman is threatening to pull Phelps from the sport until the suits are banned. He wants them banned right now.
What Happened to These Super Swimsuits?
Called “technological doping” by critics, these revolutionary swimsuits have been responsible for a rash of world records. FINA banned controversial full-body suits on July 24th, 2009. FINA’s congress also 11)stipulated the swimsuit coverage area. Men will be restricted to suits that extend from the waist to the top of the knees; women’s suits cannot go past the shoulders or beyond the knees. FINA also said suits may be made only from “textiles,” and planned to issue new suit guidelines to manufacturers by September 30th.
在罗马举行的世界游泳锦标赛上,世界纪录变得不堪一击,时间一缩再缩。但是,这该归功于谁呢?游泳选手还是他们身上穿的泳衣?这个争议在迈克尔·菲尔普斯将200米自由泳金牌和由他保持的世界纪录拱手让给名不见经传的德国选手时达到了白热化。而该名选手正好穿着最新一代的高科技泳衣。有舆论认为这些泳衣为选手们提供了对比赛不公平的优势,因此,作为游泳运动的国际性管理机构,国际泳联态度突变,表示将会在明年开始禁止某些可以促进运动员表现的泳衣出现在赛场上。
主持人:让我们从不同的角度来看看这个在游泳界激起千层浪的事件。下面先由美国广播公司的通讯员谢林·阿方斯来稍微解释一下这些泳衣是如何给游泳选手带来优势的。
阿方斯:这套泳衣是阿瑞娜公司生产的X-滑翔服。它是由聚亚氨酯制成的,有一定浮力,据说可以帮助选手提升浮力,这样一来,选手就可以集中所有的能量向前游,而减少花在使自己浮于水面的能量。又因为它可以滞留住更多的空气,所以被认为比菲尔普斯穿的速比涛泳衣更快。
主持人:英国选手乔·杰克逊穿了一套超级泳衣,而且她十分喜欢它。在接受英国广播公司采访时,杰克逊说,决定输赢的不是技术,而是平日里的训练。
杰克逊:无论明年发生什么事情,我们可以做的只能是适应局势,穿上泳衣,只要你平日里做足了功课,你就有理由相信自己可以做好。
主持人:在赛后接受德意志电波电台的采访时,菲尔普斯说他是输给了对手,而不是输在了泳衣,只是……
菲尔普斯:高科技泳衣完全改变了游泳这项运动。新闻头条总是写着“谁穿了什么泳衣”,这已经跟游泳无关了,而且,你知道,我非常期望有一天,我们可以再次名正言顺地把这项运动叫做游泳。
主持人:也许菲尔普斯并不是把自己的失利归咎于泳衣,但是根据美国有线电视新闻网卡罗·科斯特罗的说法,菲尔普斯的教练鲍勃·鲍曼却觉得这确实是泳衣惹的祸。
科斯特罗:菲尔普斯的教练对这件事十分不满。鲍勃·鲍曼扬言他将让菲尔普斯退出国际比赛,直到国际泳联禁用高科技泳衣。他希望最好现在就把它们给禁了。
高科技泳衣何去何从?
这些被评论界称为“技术性兴奋剂”的革命性泳衣是导致这届比赛产生一连串新世界纪录的一大原因。2009年7月24日,国际泳联已经对有争议的全身泳衣下了禁令。国际泳联代表大会同样对泳衣的遮盖范围做出了规定——男性泳衣限于从腰部到膝盖顶部,而女性泳衣上不得超过肩膀且不得低于膝盖。国际泳联还规定泳衣只能采用纺织原料,而且他们打算在9月30日之前对生产厂家颁布新的泳衣准则。