blueseventy's Response to FINA's Decision

When FINA released its list of approved suits for the World Championships in July, it did not approve 10 high-tech racing suits including blueseventy's 11 models in accordance with FINA's Dubai Charter.

None of blueseventy's suits, including tights and jammers, were listed on FINA’s site as approved models, including models that were previously and legally used in FINA competitions.

Admittedly, blueseventy is stunned by this omission. blueseventy's Global Marketing Manager, Dean Jackson said, "We were very comfortable with the criteria for testing that FINA had outlined, our suits passed well under the threshold for buoyancy and thickness proposed by them. We have had confirmation that our suits passed the independent laboratory testing for both of these tests."

Officially, blueseventy's products were classified as suits that "may cause significant air trapping when worn by the swimmers." In response, blueseventy has 30 days to make modifications to its suits so that they no longer trap air.

"We are dedicated to working on the best solution to the short-term situation and will work closely with FINA on this process," said Roque Santos, blueseventy's Vice President of Swimming. Steve Nichols, CEO of blueseventy, gave an interview to Floswimming to explain further. Click here to listen to the interview.

blueseventy Supporting the Sport

As FINA will make major decisions about swimwear in 2009, it appears that US Masters Swimming has moved quickly on its own domestic front.

Roque Santos, the former American Olympian and blueseventy Vice President Swimming, and Rob Butcher, US Masters Swimming Executive Director, announced blueseventy as a multi-year Gold Medal Partner of US Masters Swimming.


Combined with blueseventy’s support of the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup, these partnerships put blueseventy in a very visible position in the sport of open water swimming.

blueseventy will become the official swim skin of US Masters Swimming, will feature event signage with an online presence on the US Masters Swimming website, will offer a special member discount purchase program, conduct a co-branding promotion at blueseventy triathlon supported events and have a print advertising sponsor in USMS Swimmer magazine.

"We're very pleased to be able to put something back into Masters swimming - investing in swimming is something that blueseventy is very serious about. The US Masters Swimming community is tremendously loyal and we look forward to helping each member meet his or her objectives," explained Roque. "The Masters swimming community has been a big supporter of blueseventy for several years, helping us to launch our 'Nero' suit, so we're excited to support their workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops."

Rob agreed, "blueseventy has become a commonly seen brand at many of our competitions. We are thrilled to have their global brand committed to giving back to our membership. Their member incentive program we are developing extended exclusively to US Masters Swimming members will more than pay for ones entire year membership. In addition, their desire to promote US Masters Swimming at open water and triathlon events they sponsor will really help extend, grow and strengthen our brand."

Photo of Maarten van der Weijden by Pei Qingsheg in Beijing.

Olympian Support for Open Water Charity Event

14 Olympians, including Craig Beardsley, Mike Bruner, Ray Carey, Margie Dingeldein, Jeff Float, Kurt Grote, Susan Heon-Preston, Janel Jorgensen, Glenn Mills, Roque Santos, John Moffett, Heather Petri, Katherine Starr and Alison Townley participated in the 1.5-mile Swim Across America event in San Francisco from under the Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field Beach. More importantly, they helped raise over $200,000 for cancer research. Each swimmer had to raise a minimum of US$1,000 to enter.


Glenn Mills of GoSwim gave a colorful description of his activities and impressions of the event at GoSwim.

Photos from the Swim Across America website.