One or two months back, I was reading about the brand new and revolutionary Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit in the Sports Section of the news. Heaps of praises were mounted on the suit for its ability to give a totally new feel while swimming. If I remember correctly, Ian Thorpe claimed that it felt like another layer of skin. Wearing this technologically enhanced suit reduced resistance underwater significantly- up to 55% more than the ordinary suit on the shelf. Of course, there are other key features that I've forgotten but that's not the point. As my eyes scanned through the article, a thought was being processed in my mind. To be precise, it was a concern. A concern on whether "human breakthroughs in physical might and ability" are merely a result of advancements in technology. Have our sportsmen broken world records because of better shoes, suits or other types of sporting devices? Well, my concern turned out to be a revelation. Just today, the Frenchman Alain Bernard broke the 100m freestyle world record while wearing the LZR racer. Controversy erupted over the added capability that the LZR racer gave to swimmers. This was not simply sparked by this one incident but by a series of world records broken within the span of this year.
What are the implications of Man's reliance on technology to boost our physical abilities? In the first place, is it ethical? I believe it is a common concern in the sporting community whether the timings and victories we set and win are indeed from our own abilities. Over the past few years, there have been sports scandals, a famous one would be Justin Gatlin having his Olympic Gold medal and record for his 100m dash stripped of him for doping. Is it understood that drugs such as steroids and testorsterone related ones are unacceptable but then a new question is raised. What about the sporting equipment and attire that we wear? Will it still be fair for all if these instruments are improved for sportsmen?
My personal stand is that all these technologically enhanced equipment are unfair. It is unfair to both the past records as well as to other sportsmen. While it may be true that the athlete had set a new and faster timing, the influence of the equipment on the athlete to break the record is left unnoticed or incorporated into that win. Imagine if an athlete like Michael Johnson is at his peak now with all the latest sporting gear ready on him. Do you think he will transcend his personal records? There is no doubt that he would. A Man deserves to be judged by his true form and no true sportsman should degrade himself by relying on technology to "surpass" his abilities. Now, holders of past records were not on the same playing field as sportsmen are today, so when this variable is not held at a close constant, it is wrong to compare timings with the past. On this premise, new records should be made void or at least, should not replace the past ones.
A thousand four hundred dollar tag is labelled on the LZR and this value limits this gear to a select few. These select few are the rich and powerful. Sports is entering a phase where the rich and famous dominate the scene. Although I do not have statistics to back me up, I foresee a possibility that those with these power suits will continue to reign in their sports while those who nearly have the ability but fail to meet the mark (if only if this suit!), will simply lose out. Alright, this is based on the assumption that these gear can enhance performance drastically.
Albert Einstein once talked about 99.9% perspiration as the bulk of who he was. The other part was inspiration. For sports, hard work is the main driving force of an athlete. But technological factors in infringing into the percentage of hard work towards becoming a strong sportsman. The value of hardwork is diminishing as a substitute is found in better equipment and gear. It may be true, from the primary school textbook story about skill, being the ultimate method of discernment between a good and a bad player. However, this is gradually lost in sports which require immense amounts of brute strength eg. swimming, running etc. Alain Bernard claimed that the secret to smashing the world record was through hard work. It is difficult to trust such claims as we are entering an age where reliance on technology is on the rise.
Yet, I do hope that people play sports for the challenge. The challenge to overcome physical limits by oneself and not by any other device. Lastly, sports, as the olympic slogan goes, is to "celebrate humanity". So let us celebrate humanity by preventing all of this from interfering in our races, competitions and games.
