John Kenny's World C'ships preview

Thirteen Irish swimmers, the largest representation ever, will be at this week's world swimming championships at the 13,000 capacity Stadio del Nuoto in Rome as new swimsuit technology threatens to overshadow the nine-day long meet, reports RTÉ Sport's John Kenny in the Italian capital.

The championships began last weekend with the syncro and diving events but now the focus turns to swimming, which begins at the pool on Sunday with seven Irish involved in individual events on the opening day including Andrew Bree and Barry Murphy in the men's 100m Breaststroke, while Ireland will also have two squads in the men's and women's 4 x 100 metres Freestyle relays.

Many of the 13-strong Irish squad will be looking to enhance their growing reputations with New Ross native but now Limerick-based Grainne Murphy, a winner of three gold medals in the recent European Junior Championships in Prague, one for the future.

American Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals at last year's Olympic Games in Beijing, will also be in Rome along with the rest of the world's elite for the meet which may not totally focus on the swimmers, but on the unholy row that has erupted over the use of the latest hi-tech swimsuits.

World governing body FINA has approved a number of suits it initially rejected for the championships which are said to enhance buoyancy and reduce drag, splitting opinions in the sport, with some claiming that they now offer too much of an unfair advantage.

Initially, FINA allowed the use of the Speedo LZR last year which is a 50% polyurethane swimsuit, used by the likes of Bree, when he finished 10th overall in the men's 200 Breaststroke in China.
With its introduction in February 2008, 135 long (50m) and short course (25m) world records were broken.

However, since the Games last year, a second generation suit fully 100% polyurethane has emerged, including the Jaked 01 which is very tight fitting but which is said to compress muscle, add extra buoyancy and provide more forward propulsion.

The new suits, including the Jaked 01 and the Arena made X-Glide, were used by the likes of Frenchman Alain Bernard in setting a new 100m freestyle world record of 46.94 seconds during the French championships in April.

However, the time was not approved by FINA.

The world record remains at 47.05 seconds set by Australian Eamon Sullivan, who won't be in Rome due to a virus, while Phelps is side-stepping the controversy as he failed to take part in the event at the US trials.

Phelps has stated in the past that he wants to have a crack at the men's 100m world record, the Blue Riband of any swim meet, and he was expected to compete in the event in Italy this week.

However, the Baltimore Bullet - citing neck pain - pulled out of the 100m Freestyle heats in Indianapolis, perhaps deciding to deflect attention away from himself and back onto the suits and the controversial Bernard.

Phelps has qualified in the 100m and 200m Butterfly, as well as the 200m Freestyle in Rome and will also take part in the men's relays.

FINA announced this week that they had taken a first step to banning the controversial suits, but they will still be used in Rome.

Some of the top female events will undoubtedly be the 50m and 100m Freestyle, where Germany's Britta Steffan is the double gold medal favourite, while Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry will attempt to win three golds in the women's 100m and 200m Backstroke as well as the 200m Individual Medley.