2009年羅馬世界游泳錦標賽可以說是把“更快”的五環(huán)精神發(fā)揮到了極致。世界泳壇從來沒有像本次世錦賽這樣“瘋狂”,選手們破世界紀錄如探囊取物。據(jù)統(tǒng)計,本屆世錦賽總共有43人次打破世界紀錄,40個比賽項目只有9個項目的世界紀錄沒有被打破。原因何在?人們都把矛頭指向了高科技泳衣。有評論認為高科技泳衣的出現(xiàn),使游泳脫離了原先的傳統(tǒng)概念,成為了高科技實力的競爭。高科技泳衣究竟有何魔力?在200米自由泳比賽中遭遇滑鐵盧的“飛魚”菲爾普斯又是作何感想呢?
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.
在羅馬舉行的世界游泳錦標賽上,世界紀錄變得不堪一擊,時間一縮再縮。但是,這該歸功于誰呢?游泳選手還是他們身上穿的泳衣?這個爭議在邁克爾·菲爾普斯將200米自由泳金牌和由他保持的世界紀錄拱手讓給名不見經(jīng)傳的德國選手時達到了白熱化。而該名選手正好穿著最新一代的高科技泳衣。有輿論認為這些泳衣為選手們提供了對比賽不公平的優(yōu)勢,因此,作為游泳運動的國際性管理機構(gòu),國際泳聯(lián)態(tài)度突變,表示將會在明年開始禁止某些可以促進運動員表現(xiàn)的泳衣出現(xiàn)在賽場上。
主持人:讓我們從不同的角度來看看這個在游泳界激起千層浪的事件。下面先由美國廣播公司的通訊員謝林·阿方斯來稍微解釋一下這些泳衣是如何給游泳選手帶來優(yōu)勢的。
阿方斯:這套泳衣是阿瑞娜公司生產(chǎn)的X-滑翔服。它是由聚亞氨酯制成的,有一定浮力,據(jù)說可以幫助選手提升浮力,這樣一來,選手就可以集中所有的能量向前游,而減少花在使自己浮于水面的能量。又因為它可以滯留住更多的空氣,所以被認為比菲爾普斯穿的速比濤泳衣更快。
主持人:英國選手喬·杰克遜穿了一套超級泳衣,而且她十分喜歡它。在接受英國廣播公司采訪時,杰克遜說,決定輸贏的不是技術(shù),而是平日里的訓練。
杰克遜:無論明年發(fā)生什么事情,我們可以做的只能是適應局勢,穿上泳衣,只要你平日里做足了功課,你就有理由相信自己可以做好。
主持人:在賽后接受德意志電波電臺的采訪時,菲爾普斯說他是輸給了對手,而不是輸在了泳衣,只是……
菲爾普斯:高科技泳衣完全改變了游泳這項運動。新聞頭條總是寫著“誰穿了什么泳衣”,這已經(jīng)跟游泳無關(guān)了,而且,你知道,我非常期望有一天,我們可以再次名正言順地把這項運動叫做游泳。
主持人:也許菲爾普斯并不是把自己的失利歸咎于泳衣,但是根據(jù)美國有線電視新聞網(wǎng)卡羅·科斯特羅的說法,菲爾普斯的教練鮑勃·鮑曼卻覺得這確實是泳衣惹的禍。
科斯特羅:菲爾普斯的教練對這件事十分不滿。鮑勃·鮑曼揚言他將讓菲爾普斯退出國際比賽,直到國際泳聯(lián)禁用高科技泳衣。他希望最好現(xiàn)在就把它們給禁了。
高科技泳衣何去何從?
這些被評論界稱為“技術(shù)性興奮劑”的革命性泳衣是導致這屆比賽產(chǎn)生一連串新世界紀錄的一大原因。2009年7月24日,國際泳聯(lián)已經(jīng)對有爭議的全身泳衣下了禁令。國際泳聯(lián)代表大會同樣對泳衣的遮蓋范圍做出了規(guī)定——男性泳衣限于從腰部到膝蓋頂部,而女性泳衣上不得超過肩膀且不得低于膝蓋。國際泳聯(lián)還規(guī)定泳衣只能采用紡織原料,而且他們打算在9月30日之前對生產(chǎn)廠家頒布新的泳衣準則。
