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Controversial Swimsuit Speedo LZR Racer

July 31st, 2009

Yes, of course swimsuit can be controversial, and they will be banned from the next Olympics game.

Guess which of the three below?

1)
olympics_swimsuit

2)
olympic_swimsuit

3)

The answer is 3)

No. 3 swimsuit is the Speedo LZR (pronounced as laser) Racer Suit.

What is a LZR Racer®?
The Fastskin® LZR Racer® is the result of some of the most extensive research in swimwear history. Made from an ultra lightweight, low drag, water repellent, fast drying fabric, unique to Speedo, called LZR Pulse®, the LZR Racer® is the world’s first fully bonded swimsuit, 10% less passive drag than Fastskin® FSII, 5% less passive drag than Fastskin® FS-Pro, 5% Better Oxygen Efficiency, enablingswimmers to swim faster for longer, 4% faster in starts, sprints and turns.

In short, it’s a turbo for swimmers.

This suit has been developed in association with NASA, Ansys, Inc. (which supplied fluid flow analysis software and support), and the Australian Institute of Sport as well as the support of Speedo’s sponsored athletes, and it is marketed as the world’s fastest swimsuit. This is the focus of Speedo’s campaign for the 2008 Summer Olympics, spearheaded by Michael Phelps of the United States.

It is one of the Marvin Lee’s 2008 World Technology Breakthrough.

However, this technology breakthrough is not something widely accepted by everyone, especially to the sports fan of swimming that think it is akin to swimming with steroids?

The leading swimming nations, including USA, Australia, Canada, Britain, France and The Netherlands, are currently putting together a proposal to set firm limits to the introduction of swimsuit technology.

Recently, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) is making a decision to ban such bodysuits in competition after this year.

Its own sponsor Speedo has described the FINA decision to revert to full textile fabrics and pre-2000 suit profiles, as a “retrograde step”.

The FINA Congress voted overwhelmingly though, 168-7, to ban all suits containing polyurethane. It will rule out the Speedo LZR, predominant at last year’s Olympics, as well as this year’s range of full polyurethane models produced by a host of new brands.

The Beijing Olympics proved to be an unprecedented success for Speedo and the LZR Racer with 94% of all swimming races won in the suit. At the Games, Michael Phelps (who was wearing the suit) won a historic 8 gold medals. In total 23 out of the 25 world records broken, were achieved by swimmers competing in the LZR suit.

Are we seeing regulations to the sports of swimming like F1? Should the swimmers be regulated on their suits? What about their weight, height and length of palm? 🙂

Of course, one might argue that the suit is not related to the sports-person’s feature but why are we not seeing the banning of soccer boots that are lighter, better grip, or less drag too?

Just something to ponder upon, controversy will remain controversy as not everyone will agree to the same thing.

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