SwimSwam Podcast: Fred Bousquet Explains Why Super Suits Were Good for Swimming

On the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with perhaps the most artistic swimmer of all-time, Fred Bousquet. Fred opened up about what it was like when he first got to America and started training at Auburn University under David Marsh and Dave Durden, admitting that it took him a year just to make the decision to leave France. Bousquet also explains why he loved the super suits: because of the attention that they brought to the sport. Bousquet admits that swimming now is “purer”, but he still thinks the super suits added an interesting dynamic to the sport.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.

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Kim
4 years ago

Silent your phone

Gold Medal Mel Stewart
Reply to  Kim
4 years ago

Check

Kim
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
4 years ago

You’re the best

Hmm
4 years ago

Did he address his PED use?

ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

I’ve never understood why so many seem to be upset at Beiderman. He swam his 200/400 frees under the same rules that everyone else did.

Everyone had the same opportunity to wear his suit and many did. He didn’t break any rules. He just swam much faster than everyone else did under the same rules. Seems fine to me.

People say the rubber suits helped some more than others. Maybe they did, so what. Same rules.

Ragnar
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

It’s also true that Ian Thorpe in 2009 would’ve been only 26(27?) meaning he very easily could have kept swimming long enough to make full use of the super suits, possibly breaking the 3:40 barrier. I fully understand why he took the break/mostly was retired by then, his head wasn’t in the right place and his legend already established, but it remains true that both Thorpe AND Phelps COULD have worn the arena in 2009 if they were interested in ensure their name stayed on the records. They didn’t, so beiderman certainly did what he did fair and square within the rules, and should probably be given more credit, it’s not his fault he choose a better product to peak… Read more »

DRUKSTOP
4 years ago

Dang.. Alain still splits 46.73, 3rd fastest in the field.

Last edited 4 years ago by DRUKSTOP
Swimfish87
4 years ago

Ok so I have to ask with all of the talent that has graced to men’s and women’s NCAA. Swimmers like Freddy Bousquet, Cesar Cielo, Latin wars off and more. Compared against the spinners of today such as Ryan held,Nathan Adrian, Caleb Dressel, and more. I remember watching the 2018 SEC 200 medley relay. Tennessee had the lead going into the last 50 Kyle Decoursey split and 18.14 and Dressel put down a 17.92 and thinking that had to be the fastest two splits ever. How about doing a nice article breaking down that that would be amazing to see SwimSwam.

Mr Piano
4 years ago

Dressel posted a story on his Instagram of him wearing an LZR Racer

Xman
Reply to  Mr Piano
4 years ago

I want to see that video of whatever he did with it.

swimfast
4 years ago

i think the suits were bound to happen…i remember as a 10 year old (ie a naive youngster) asked my coach why the whole suit wasn’t the material of the waterproof part of an aqua blade. i’m sure we all were thinking “ok why don’t we just have a floating, waterproof suit” …. although, i’m not sure how good for swimming it was that some super classic world records were broken. obviously, Biedermann is the poster child for super suit success juxtaposed with his other non-super suit swims….it is honestly still a little stinging to not have Thorpe’s ‘01 record STILL standing…..it probably will have stayed on the books for yeaaars and then in turn have gone down as one… Read more »

Last edited 4 years ago by swimfast
Dbswims
4 years ago

Honestly, with all the technology advancements, there would end up with a suit that just makes the swimmer into a boat.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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