After three years of research, with specific input from NASA, the most contentious aid to a swimmer is currently responsible for 37 broken world records. Its makers claim it gives a 10 per cent increase in efficiency for the wearer. How can not be an unfair advantage?
'The suit will be legal for the recording of world records - of which it is already responsible for 37 - and is not regarded as an unfair advantage according to Australian and American swimming bodies'
Speedo has garnered a considerable reputation for being the suit the elite swimmers use, but it now seems to be going too far to increasing a standard human’s ability to move effortlessly through the water.
Swimsuits have come a long way since the sport became competitive at the highest level. Jantzen made the first recorded elasticized suit in 1913 which weighed nearly 20 pounds when wet and was basically a wool sweater.
In 1992, Speedo created history by releasing the S2000 at the Barcelona Olympics. It was the first major style of cat suit (full body coverage excluding the arms) released, and its principal goal was to reduce drag in relation to shaved skin. It was predominantly used by the Australian swimmers.
At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, the Aqua Blade was released to stunning effect. Over three-quarters of the medals at the most prestigious meet in the swimming calendar were won by competitors wearing the Aqua Blade. The Teflon-coated suit had alternating rough and smooth ridges designed to further decrease drag.
In Australia in 2000 the new Fast Skin was released covering the entire body. It came with denticles to mimic the friction actions utilised by sharks. The suit saw its wearers claim 83% of all medals in all events. Higher levels of compression were evident in the suit which saw muscle activity enhanced.
From 2004 to 2007 we saw the release of the FS-2 and the FS-PRO, with further records and medals influenced with the “special” suits.
What advantages do all these suits offer? The biggest one is that they provide less drag through water than skin, something which is further accentuated by using lines that are designed to have water pass the body quicker. The compression sees the muscles allegedly contract faster which, in essence, duplicates the activity of a fast-twitch fibre - the dominant action muscle in the human body.
Now the LZR Racer has come into play, with testing on over 100 fabrics and laser body scans of over 400 elite swimmers. It is the fastest and most hydro-dynamically effective piece of swimming material available. It is water-repellent, fast-drying and, as well as the usual action of reducing drag, it actually holds the swimmer's body in a streamlined shape during the motion of a swimming action.
It is also ultrasonically welded so it appears seamless, and incorporates low drag panels which, in effect, make it a high-intensity “corset” which holds the midsection in optimum position. This in turn allows the swimmer to enhance their oxygen intake. It was designed by Computational Fluid Dynamics, with institute input from the AIS, Otago University and NASA.
FINA has already approved the suit. It will be legal for the recording of world records - of which it is already responsible for 37 - and is not regarded as an unfair advantage according to Australian and American swimming bodies. This is despite the fact that in the last year more swimming records have fallen than during any other period in history.
Increased human evolution? I think not. It is destroying the Olympic notion of fair play almost single-handedly.
The above explanations, definitions and terminology sound more like an advanced weapons suit or something that an astronaut or deep sea diver would wear. But this is just a swimsuit, albeit one that will effectively retail for over 500 US dollars. A lot of countries will not be wearing it when, if the statistics are to be believed, the suit will increase an individual’s overall efficiency by at least 10 per cent.
It is indeed now legal, but only the most naive would claim that it is fair. Any team or nation that does not have sponsorship or the money to kit out their athletes in the suit might as well not bother to turn up.
Does the LZR Racer give its wearers an unfair advantage? Or has the Speedo marketing machine simply gone into overdrive? Have your say below, or submit your own article to Sportingo.