No one is debating that the newest swimsuits on the market today are faster than the suits of the past. It seems like the whole book has been re-written in the sport of swimming for the past year. Triathletes have been using these suits in their racing when wetsuits aren’t allowed. So, are those expensive suits making everyone’s swim split faster in triathlon just like it’s making everyone faster in competitive swimming? This article seeks to analyze this question in detail.

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Q: Does covering yourself in body oil make you swim faster?

A: Boy, I haven’t heard this question in a very long time.  Covering yourself in oil (suntanning or cooking oils) has never been allowed in competitive swimming.  Still, I knew a few people (particularly sprinters) would make an art of lathering themselves just right so that their skin looked “sweaty” rather than “slick”, thus avoiding a disqualification. 

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Coach Dobko will pick one of your questions each week and give you some insight into swimming. E-mail your questions to duanesworlddobko@worldnet.att.net.

Ever wonder where you need to use a moisturizer to avoid chafing / rashes from your wetsuit? If your swim is long, (like Ironman), you want to make sure you have the stuff around your neck, particularly at the back of your neck as that area gets scratched up by the zipper flaps. This is not nearly as important in a half-mile swim, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you wear a sleeveless wetsuit, you will want to apply moisturizer on the inside of your bicep muscle, as that area will rub past the neoprene around your torso.

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