IMFL Swim cheats?

Oh that's just low!! Fins in the swim??? I'm curious of his number and how he finished because the only excuse for this would be if you're trying to Qualify or Just barely make the cut off.

This however would provide no advantage for me as I don't kick...like ever.

Shanks

I thought that certainly there must have been a mistake ... how does one sneak fins into the swim?  How do you not get caught? 

People like this are one of the reasons that I think we should dope test the top AG athletes at these major events. Do you honestly think that this guy wouldn't also use EPO or steroids if he knew that there was  no way that he could get caught?

In the "My first/next tri" this year, I got stuck behind some dude wearing a "floatation device".  He would not get out of my way during the swim.  As a result....my slowest time ever.  I'm not saying he can't do that, I'm just saying stay out my way if you can't swim (start at the back of pack please). 

I know that I'm slow on the bike, and ride accordingly....I make certain to stay to the far right and give a courteous "go gettem" and drop back out of the three bike-lengths zones.  I know that's harder to do in swmming.  But seriously, a flotation device is a good indication that you shouldn't start with the "big dogs"!

Some people don't care.  I realize that fact even if I don't understand it.

I was thinking about my IM in a couple days.  I could easily detour some of the run course at night and no one would be the wiser.  But how could I feel like I accomplished what I set out to do if I cut even 100 yards off the race?

Some people must care more about what others think of them than what they think of themselves.

Seriously?  Perhaps because it's...I don't know...Cheating?  Because perhaps it's not only against the spirit of the rules but directly against the rules?  Or maybe because it also takes away from every person that busted their butt to finish that swim by putting in the time.

Yes, that's right, it took away from the person that worked hard to finish the swim in 2h 19m 59s.  They worked hard and got rewarded for it.  This guy chose to not do the work but cheat.  It not only cheapens him, but the sport if it's allowed to continue.

And the next logical step would be:  Well, he wasn't going for a Kona slot, so we let him draft.  And since he was a poor runner, why not let him do one loop instead of two. 

Congratualations Mr. Swim Fins even though you used Fins on the swim, saved 40% of your energy by drafting on the bike and did one loop of the run...  YOU ARE AN IRONMAN.

Let me think...NO

sorry...I'll get off of my soap box now.

Big John is back!  This thread should be hilarious by tomorrow!

I think I read on the Iron Distance IMFL watching thread on Saturday that the guy was caught getting out of the water with them and DQ on the spot.  I don't believe he got to continue the race. 

"Back from swim volunteer duty.

They caught a guy using flippers on the swim...DQed him.

Everyone looked great...fast swim times."

 27 minutes ain't that bad brother...understand the suffering part, but your MOP with that time :-)

BTW, flotation devices are NOT against the rules.  You can wear lil simmies if you want.  Anything that helps to propell you foward (like fins) are against the USAT rules.  They give an unfair competitive advantage.  If you aren't that great a swimmer and want to wear fins, you are welcome to swim in any body of water any where in the world, just don't compete in races!

The flotation device I saw was kind of like a life vest, but inflated and was not as bulky.