Effective June 1, 2010, the rules regarding swimsuits allowable for USA Swimming sanctioned or approved open water events are as follows:
1. Any suits included on the currently published list of FINA approved suits, which is posted on the Rules & Regulations page of the USA Swimming website and on the FINA website, are allowable. These are the same suits allowed for pool swimming.
2. In addition, for open water competition only, suits for both men and women may extend to the ankle and may cover the shoulder. However, they must not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or below the ankle. Because of this increased coverage allowed for open water competition, these suits will not be included on the FINA list of approved suits, but are allowable as long as they meet the other requirements of being made of full textile material with no zippers or fasteners.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.