As more and more swimmers participate in the sport of open water swimming, the rules of the sport remain.

Because more people are swimming in more areas where there are more jellyfish, one issue that comes ups in warm waters around the world where jellyfish are proliferating. There are frankly very few places in the world where swims are governed by an established body. Swimmers and coaches are asking if they can wear protective wear. A few even ask if they can use devices of various kinds to “sweep away jellyfish”. Their designs have included tarps and sheets of various sorts to clear the water to a device like a Shark Shield for jellyfish.

In essence, the jellyfish of today have appeared to become the sharks of the 1970s.

I was able to tally a good number of International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame members over the last 36 hours. It was a more-than-overwhelming consensus that assisted swims are strictly limited to use of equipment or swimwear that aid buoyancy or heat retention. That is it unless there are specific rules that outlaw certain things. [On a side note, I wonder if there is a specific rule that outlaws protective swimwear in the North Channel? I think the North Channel swims are governed by the ILDSA, so this is something Donal or Ned might know off the top of their heads]

Everything else that can possibly be used (sun shades, swimmer booms, protective swimwear including gloves and booties, mylar sheets that flatten out the water in front, chemical lotions on the skin, drafting off of boats, chemicals in the water ahead of the swimmer…and all the other ideas that swimmers have used) is acceptable and falls within the category of unassisted swims.

Perhaps my perspective is skewed because I started doing this sport in the 1960s when the sport was truly Man vs. Nature as opposed to today when it is more similar to Man + Technology vs. Nature. But I think when we start to allow people to use or wear devices, equipment or gear that effectively eliminates, blocks, blunts or softens elements or marine life that they would normally and naturally encounter in the ocean, then I think that is an unnatural advantage and should be defined as a form of assistance.

But it is clearly evident that my opinion is in the very small minority. As they say, “The jury has spoken.”

It will be interesting to see what swimmers and manufacturers come up with over the next few generations. I think the community will be quite surprised by the creativity of its peers.

I ask this simple question, “Why use it (protective swimwear or sun shade) if it is not a form of assistance? That is, if we define this as a form of non-assistance, then why use it?” The fundamental meaning of assistance is to help … and equipment and swimwear that helps the swimmer falls into this category.

Thank you very much. Your answers reflect the general thinking of the majority of the IMSHOF. This is important because more and more swimmers are swimming in warm waters and are asking if they can wear protective suits. My answer will be, “You can if you wish.”
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