In a controversial ruling by Australia’s swimming regulatory body, Swim Australia, one of Sweden’s most famous swimmers was disqualified, after breaking her own world record, for wearing two swimsuits. Therese Alshammar was told her new world record in the 50 metre butterfly at the Australian Championships was ruled out due to new regulations regarding swimsuits.
World championship swimmers are allowed to wear only one swimsuit plus a pair of bikini bottoms under their suit to protect their modesty. The new high-tech swimsuits used by most professional swimmers are virtually transparent when wet, leaving little to the imagination.
It’s strange, however, that women swimmers can only wear a pair of briefs and not the upper part that would cover their breasts. The Local reported that Alshammar told a news station: “I thought a modesty suit would be a modesty suit. I would almost claim that’s a bit sexist saying that the men can cover their private parts up with briefs and women can only also wear briefs.”
Alshammar shaved 0.2 seconds off her world record, but later was told she was disqualified for wearing the upper portion of a ‘modesty’ suit. She slammed the Australian rules, which were introduced last year, as being “sexist.” The world governing body of the sport, FINA, has also implemented rules similar to those in Australia.