Michael Phelps eagerly awaits results of switch back in suits

The new suits … the same as the old suits?

Not quite, but you get the idea.

Swimmers at this week’s U.S. national championships in Irvine are slipping back in time, in terms of suit technology, and the most-decorated one of all, Michael Phelps, is embracing the development with his long wingspan.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: It’s really going to be interesting to see who can make the transition,” Phelps said Monday.

“It’s going to show who is willing to put in more work, to be able to be in better physical shape. You’re not going to be able to float as easy on top of the water. I just think it’s going to be interesting to see some of the times you’ll see this week.”

A refresher course: Banished is the high-tech polyurethane suit largely responsible for the onslaught of world records, including 43 at last year’s FINA World Championships in Rome. It made a mockery of the sport and devalued many a world record until finally the international body of swimming, FINA, creaked into action and banned the suits.

Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, said the move puts the scrutiny and heat back on the coaches, and he welcomed the increase in temperature. Men can only wear the knee-length jammers, while women can wear suits from shoulder to knee.

“From my standpoint, it makes the coaching more significant in the process because your errors in the taper … It used to be if you were off in the taper, you’d put the suit on, and it kind of covered it up,” Bowman said.

Literally.

Though the glut of world records felt almost like a sugar rush for fans, there is a concern that spectators will be hard-pressed to adjust to the slower times and meets without world records. Phelps does not buy into that school of thought. Of course, one former Olympian, Gary Hall Jr., once said Phelps could set records wearing cutoffs.

“I still think you’re going to see tight races,” Phelps said. “For me, I’d rather see a tight race than watch a world record get obliterated by five seconds.”

Irvine serves as a selection meet for the Pan Pacific competition, which is this month at the same venue. Results at the two meets factor into the composition of next year’s U.S. team for the world championships.

Phelps won’t be swimming the 100-meter freestyle at nationals but is busy with five individual events — the 200 freestyle, the 100 butterfly, the 200 butterfly, the 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.

He told the Sun last week that he was having big trouble with his freestyle stroke, which was evident about a month ago at a meet in Paris. On Monday, Phelps said it was coming around and Bowman attributed the struggles to a couple of factors, mainly timing.

Phelps took a shot at himself, saying: “Probably just me being lazy, to be honest.”

That was probably a little harsh. Even after everything he has accomplished in the sport — winning 14 Olympic gold medals — it was refreshing to hear him sound eager to do more here.

“I think I’m more motivated now than I have been all year,” he said. “Not being where you want to be is frustrating. At the same time, I brought this on myself.”

Phelps is not swimming the 400 individual medley in Irvine, much to his delight. He laughed and said even his mother, Debbie, was trying to persuade him to reconsider.

Ryan Lochte could be out of the 400 IM too. He hurt his left groin last week and has not been able to practice the breaststroke. Lochte said he would test it Monday night and if he still had issues, he would stick to the 400 freestyle, the 200 freestyle, the 100 freestyle, the 100 backstroke and the 200 backstroke.

The meet represents a measuring stick for many of the Olympic class of 2008. Natalie Coughlin, who took an extended break after Beijing and missed the meet in Rome, is competing in the 100 freestyle, the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. The West Coast has represented a fresh start for former Phelps teammate Katie Hoff, now swimming for Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team.

New father and 34-year-old Jason Lezak has opted to concentrate on the 100 freestyle, deciding to skip the 50 freestyle. One of the highly anticipated races will be Saturday, the final day of the meet, in the 200 backstroke with a three-way battle between Phelps, Lochte and Aaron Peirsol.

Jessica Hardy of Long Beach had qualified for Beijing in two individual events but did not make it to China after testing positive for a banned substance at the Olympic trials, which resulted in a one-year suspension.

“I’ve moved on from 2008,” she said. “I obviously had a lot of struggle processing that and getting through that year but I’ve definitely moved on. Even if I never make another national team, I’m in a good place and loving every moment.”

lisa.dillman@latimes.com