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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2016 SPORTS BASKETBALL SWIMming Will truce in swimsuit wars carry on past Rio Olympics? RIO DE JANEIRO: There’s one question swimmers won’t hear this month around the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro: What are you wearing? Olympic coaches and swimmers would prefer it remain that way, never wanting to go back to the swim- suit wars that culminated with a ludicrous display of speed at the 2009 world championships. Yet, the big-money swimsuit companies - so crucial to the sport’s financial viability - are always pressing to show off their high-tech chops, which are severely crimped by rules that restrict the size and fabrics for competition swimsuits. Some are wondering just how long the status quo will remain in place after the Rio Games end on Aug. 21. “I do believe there will be something that’s coming,” American swimmer Elizabeth Beisel said. “Whether it’s in the next five years, 10 years, who knows? But it’ll get back to where it was, for sure.” That prospect is anathema to those who remember RIO DE JANEIRO: France’s guard Marine Johannes (3rd R) battles Turkey’s defence during a Women’s round Group A basketball match between Turkey and France at the Youth what happened seven years ago in Rome, when a decade Arena in Rio de Janeiro yesterday during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. — AFP of radical changes in swimsuit design led to the introduc- tion of rubberized bodysuits. Forty-three world records were set at a meet that was more farce than competition, leading governing body FINA to hastily impose new swimsuit rules that mandated only textile fabrics, banned Spain leads record 34 NBA zippers and restricted the amount of coverage from the waist to the top of the knees for men - so-called “jam- mers” - and to the upper body and upper legs for women. While the swimsuit companies still tout the quality of players out to topple USA their suits and push the limits as far as they can within the rules, it’s clear they would like a little more leeway. “It defi- nitely unleashes a little more creativity and innovation if RIO DE JANEIRO: Spaniards settled for Spain while former NBAer Rudy Fernandez find out how we’re going to play without the rules are relaxed a bit,” said Todd Mitchell, who helped second best to US NBA stars at the past and current Laker Jose Calderon and Gasol him,” said Mirotic. “Defensively we need to Olympic Scores/ Results develop Michael Phelps’ signature swimsuit line for Aqua two Olympics, but Pau Gasol and his team- play in their fourth Olympics. step up, especially because Marc is not Sphere. mates hope their third upset attempt is Other Spanish NBA talent includes here.” Mirotic is confident Spain has what it FIELD HOCKEY-Men Kate Wilton, the senior director of merchandising and charmed. Oklahoma City’s Alex Abrines, New York’s takes to humble the Americans. “They Netherlands 3, Argentina 3 design at Speedo, said the current rules forced the swim- Outside of the American dozen of NBA Guillermo Hernangomez, Chicago’s Nikola have a superstar team. Everybody can India 3, Ireland 2 suit giant to change its design approach. standouts, a record 34 NBA players are on Mirotic, Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio and score 20 points,” he said. “But you never other Olympics rivals, five more than in Philadelphia’s Sergio Rodriguez. know. Anything is possible. It’s too early to RUGBY-Women COLORFUL 2012. Spain would love nothing more than to think about the final. We need to think France 24, Spain 7 “A lot more energy now goes into the actual design of Apart from Team USA, Spain offers the dethrone the US squad for Olympic gold, about our group.” New Zealand 52, Kenya 0 the suit and its print,” she said. “The suits have become most NBA experience at the Rio Olympics having lost the 2008 Beijing final 118-107 Britain 29, Brazil 3 more colorful.” But, Wilton added, “obviously, we love it with seven active players and three former and the 2012 London final 107-100. COACH K LIKES SPANISH BONDS when people can push innovation a little bit more.” NBA players in the lineup. Australia, France “It would mean the world,” said 36-year- US coach Mike Krzyzewski praised TEAM HANDBALL-Women Specifically, she mentioned the idea of allowing the men’s and Brazil each boast five NBA players. old center Gasol, a two-time NBA champi- Spain’s chemistry and teamwork, bonds Brazil 31, Norway 28 suits to cover more of their bodies. “If that happens, we’ll Argentina has four and only two teams on with the Los Angeles Lakers who now built over years while the US team only be ready,” she said. in Rio, China and Venezuela, lack any active plays for the San Antonio Spurs. “But it’s assembled on July 18. VOLLEYBALL-Women Speedo was on the cutting edge of the swimsuit wars NBA talent-a testimony to the impact of extremely hard. That’s why it would mean “They are experienced together and South Korea 3, Japan 1 (19-25, 25-15, with its revolutionary LZR Racer, which was developed the original 1992 US Olympic “Dream so much.” that’s something our team doesn’t have,” 25-17, 25-21) with help from NASA’s wind tunnel testing facilities and Team.” Spain begins Group B play today Krzyzewski said. “There’s a brotherhood, a became the go-to attire heading into the 2008 Beijing “Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic against Croatia. Other preliminary round familiarity they have and a pride to play for WATER POLO -Men Olympics. With polyurethane incorporated into the fabric Johnson, David Robinson-all those guys openers in Spain’s group find Argentina their country.” Serbia 13, Hungary 13 and strategically placed panels that compressed the body had so much fun and that’s what you envi- against Nigeria and host Brazil facing Argentina is sparked by San Antonio Croatia 7, United States 5. —AP in key spots, the suit helped a swimmer stay higher in the sion when you see the Olympics,” said US Lithuania. Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and Brooklyn water and minimize resistance - essentially mimicking the Olympian Kyle Lowry. “We have to do a lot of things right,” big man Luis Scoia while Brazil’s NBA line- effect of a dolphin gliding through the ocean. Phelps was “A lot of people say, ‘The reason I start- Gasol said. “We have to work to beat a lot up includes Phoenix’s Leandro Barbosa, Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills and wearing the LZR when he won a record eight gold medals ed playing basketball was because of the of great teams to have a chance to get Nene of Houston and Utah’s Raul Neto. Milwaukee’s Matthew Dellavedova, who in China, famously capturing a $1 million bonus from Dream Team’. So I hope that in 20 years there, so we’ve got to grow as the tourna- The USA tops Group A favorites with helped the Cavaliers beat Golden State in Speedo. But by the following summer, the suit was basi- some teams will have seen us play in 2016 ment advances and deserve to get there.” China, France, Australia, Serbia and June. The French offer Charlotte’s Nicolas cally rendered obsolete by the fully rubberized models and that made them play basketball.” But one key missing big man for Spain Venezuela. Batum, Utah’s Boris Diaw and San Antonio that led the assault on the record books in Rome. Former NBA player Juan Carlos Navarro is Marc Gasol, Pau’s brother who has a foot The Aussie Boomers feature Dallas star guard Tony Parker, who has helped the “Pretty much anybody could swim fast in those suits,” makes his fifth Olympic appearance for injury. “He was very important. We have to Mavericks big man Andew Bogut, San Spurs claim four NBA crowns. —AFP Beisel said. “Now, you definitely need to be a hard worker and have some yardage and stuff under your belt. You can’t just rely on the suits to make you fast anymore.” USA Swimming wants to keep it that way, but also knows that swimsuit companies have huge influence CYCLING within the sport. “It’s not that we are opposed to science, but we want the performance on the athletes to be gauged on their hard work, on what they’re able to accomplish without technological aids, specifically swim- suits,” said Chuck Wielgus, executive director of USA US riding wave of power for Swimming. —AP women’s road race cycling RIO DE JANEIRO: Evelyn Stevens has built in the time trial - she must also ride in the als, such as broadcast and marketing They will be tackling a slightly shorter the kind of resume in cycling that should road race to compete in that event. opportunities, which would help with version of the men’s course that caused all make her one of the favorites to land on Bouchard-Hall’s goal of expanding cycling kinds of problems Sunday. Numerous riders the podium in today’s Olympic road race. SO WHERE DID THE PROBLEM OCCUR? to a broader audience. lost chains or had other mechanical prob- She nearly didn’t get the chance to com- Well, Small trumped both Stevens and In the meantime, the four riders lining lems on the cobblestones, including Tour pete at all. In perhaps the strongest sign of Armstrong in the time trial at the national up for Sunday’s road race form a formida- de France winner Chris Froome, who need- American might, the four women selected championships earlier this year.