OLYMPIC SPORT PREVIEW: SUITING SWIMMERS JUST FINE NEW FULL-BODY SWIMWEAR AT CENTER OF CONTROVERSY.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

At world-class swim meets throughout the country, you see them: Swimmers stepping onto the blocks covered head to ankle in what looks like a thin wetsuit.

There are blue and black suits, some with racing stripes, some with stitched V-ridges, some with zippers. Some completely covering the swimmer except for the hands, head and feet, others leaving the legs and arms exposed.

It also flies in the face of tradition that says the less you wear - and that includes body hair - the faster you swim.

Yet the body suit, made out of a polyester-spandex blend intending to simulate shark skin, is here to stay.

Unpublished studies by the major swimming apparel manufacturers claim the suits reduce resistance three percent better than shaving. Some swimmers believe the only thing a suit provides is a mental edge, which still could help one's speed in the water.

When NBC televises swimming in Sydney, chances are everyone will be wearing one. And the manufacturers love it.

``It's great for the sport,'' said Stu Isaac, vice president of sales and marketing for Speedo, the largest swim apparel company. ``Technology is exciting.''

Or is it? Some U.S. Swimming officials privately have expressed concerns the suit will kill the sport because only the rich or elite swimmers will have access. Besides, these officials say, USA Swimming's own rule book prevents swimmers from using any device or substance that gives added buoyancy - and many swimmers say they feel higher in the water with the suit.

USA Swimming asked four leading suit manufacturers - TYR, Adidas, Speedo and Nike - to make their high-tech suits available to all swimmers by June 14, giving them plenty of time to get comfortable in the new attire before the trials.

When only Adidas met the deadline, the board voted June 22 to ban full- length suits at the U.S. Trials. Afterward, the manufacturers insisted they could handle the demand.

USA Swimming, facing a grievance from TYR and hearing assurances that all of the 1,300 competitors would have a chance to wear the suits, overturned the ban July 19.

Speedo claims the faster suit will revolutionize the sport and it's just another step in its evolution. Although swimmers still shave, wearing thinner suits has given way to synthetic materials such as Lycra in 1974 to Speedo's Aquablade in 1996 to the full-body suit in 2000.

Of course, to the manufacturers it's all about money and influence. The faster a swimmer can go (Speedo claims its suits can make a swimmer drop three-tenths of a second), the more they'll want to wear what makes them go faster, and the more they'll pay. Isaac said the new suit, called Fastskin, costs $200.

And if records fall, people will want to swim more and will buy the suits; and organizations will make licensing deals with manufacturers for their products - which is what USA Swimming has done with Speedo, a sponsor of several USA Swimming-sanctioned events.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA), ever needing publicity and money, approved the suits for the Olympics, calling the suit a costume and not equipment.

This irks some USA Swimming officials, who say FINA should have conducted its own independent scientific tests on the suits instead of relying on the manufacturer's word. They fear the manufacturers will control the sport, much as boxing promoters rule their world more than the federations.

Isaac said he's disappointed in these officials' reactions.

``They've lost sight of the big picture,'' he said. ``It's clear in FINA's rules. They called it a costume. A device (is) like hand paddles or a cap that changes the shape of the head. The suit doesn't do that.''

Swimmers seem to like the suits, saying they feel the difference in the water.

``It's probably the best thing for swimming in the long run, said Tom Malchow, who set a world record in the 200 butterfly wearing the full- length suit. ``It's going to give people a chance to swim as fast as possible. You don't want to show up at the Olympics in a suit you haven't worn before.''

Yet some, such as freestyler Chad Carvin, won't wear one until he has time to sufficiently train in them.

``It changes the body position in the water,'' Carvin said. ``You ride a little higher in the water. It's a new feeling, not a very good feeling at first.''

Isaac reminds that the suit doesn't replace hard work, the sacrifice of early-morning workouts or any training. But his company, as well as the other manufacturers, are going to keep developing new suits and new ways to swim faster.

``The history of winning is abundant with evolutionary moments,'' Isaac said. ``And let's face it: This is not as dramatic as the fiberglass pole in pole vaulting or the graphite rackets in tennis.''

Still, Carvin said, he feels badly for swimmers such as Matt Biondi and Tom Jager who set their records with good old-fashioned shaving and wearing tiny trunks.

Amy Van Dyken found one extra benefit of the suit: ``It doesn't make a swimmer like my grandmother an Olympian. The only difference is it covers my hairy legs.''

SWIMMING

Competition dates: Sept. 16-23

Events: 16 men's and women's individual events in four different strokes, plus three men's and women's relays

History: Men's swimming was one of the original sports when the modern Olympics began in 1896, although various events have been added and dropped over time. Women's swimming became an Olympic sport in 1912 with the 100 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay. The majority of events were added in 1968.

Favorites: Anyone wearing one of those new bodysuits. Since that will be everyone, the great rivalry today is between the Americans and Australians, so those two nations should dominate. But watch out for the occasional European record-holder.

How U.S. will fare: Very well. Studio City's Lenny Krayzelburg holds two backstroke world records, Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson are among the best sprinters, and both teams are incredibly deep.

Did you know: Anthony Ervin of Valencia is the first African-American to qualify for the Olympics.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Valencia's Anthony Ervin is the first African-American to make the U.S. swim team.

Tom Strattman/Associated Press

Box: SWIMMING (See text)