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Oops--somehow I managed to put on two swimsuits
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Therese Alshammar of Sweden DQed & new world record denied
Therese Alshammar of Sweden was overjoyed when she broke her own 50 meters butterfly world record during the morning's heats at Sydney's Olympic pool.
She stopped the clock at 25.44 seconds, slicing 0.02 seconds off the existing world record of 25.46 she set at a meet in Barcelona in June 2007.
But after a 5-hour investigation it was determined that the reigning world champion in the 50 meter butterfly had worn two swimsuits---a violation of new Australian rule put into place just 17 days prior to the meet.
The result: Alshammar was disqualified and her her world record time was denied.
"I am a bit shocked myself, and I am very happy," she had told reporters. "I have had a great couple of months in Australia, it is the best place in the world for swimming."
This is the latest incident is a series of new world records that many in the swimming world are beginning to question because of questionable use of new swimsuit technology.
According to the New York Times:
"Swimming Australia introduced a by-law on February 28 banning the use of multiple swimsuits. The sport's world governing, FINA, announced last week they were introducing a similar rule as part of a series of new regulations and recommendations on swimwear.
Australian swimmers and their coaches were told about the rule change before the championships began on Tuesday although it was not known whether Alshammar was aware of the change.
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Alshammar has been training in Sydney for the last two months. Foreigners are allowed to compete in the heats of the Australian national titles but not the semi-finals or finals.
"I think it would be hard to think these rules wouldn't be there," Australian head coach Alan Thompson told Australian Associated Press."
In this photo the swimmer/model barely has one swimsuit on.
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