Technology in Sports

Technology has greatly changed sports. It has changed the training of athletes, what it means to be an athlete, the fan followings of different sports teams, and how you can follow your sports teams. More specifically in sports, the equipment used has greatly changed in almost all sports in some way. In football, the pads have become larger and more protective, the golf clubs used are more aerodynamic, and designed to drive the ball further, and even in swimming instead of using a speedo and a cap, there are now extremely expensive technical suits designed to keep you up in the water, and prevent your muscles from fatiguing. My article goes into how technical suits have changed the whole idea behind swimming. Being a swimmer for my whole life, and participating in six different swimming programs, usually, summer is a time when swim teams take it easy. We still practiced hard to stay in swimming shape, but meets were supposed to be more for fun than anything else, and the winter season was reserved for more serious swimming. The article talks about how, “parents of 10-year-olds, adults whose vision is clouded by scholarship money and stardom… are willing wedge their little kid into a high-tech suit”. (Lohn) This was true in my final year on my summer league team, and I saw many children in all age groups (5 and unders to 18-19 year olds) in technical suits, and it was sickening. The article talks about how swimming has changed from being all about how the athlete alone does when in a speedo, cap, and now have to own a technical suit to keep up with the rest of the competition. The article makes a valid point in saying, “God forbid mom and dad cost little Timmy an age-group victory because he wasn't clad in a $500 product. What horrible parenting that they chose to put the money toward the mortgage payment instead” (Lohn), which is how many parents are seen in swimming. If they do not buy their children the best suits available, then they are viewed as costing