The Jeff Beckham Weblog

The latest issue of The Economist takes a look at how Speedo’s new LZR swimsuit has revolutionized the sport in the four months. Forty-two world swimming records have been broken since the suit was introduced in February, and 38 of those record-breaking swims were by competitors wearing LZRs.

The technology that went into the $600 suit is remarkable:

• A dense, but light material that compresses the swimmer’s body into a sleek shape but is extremely light. The suit also has no seams, but is held together by ultrasonic welding to reduce drag.
• A corset-like “internal core stabilizer” that holds the swimmer’s form in the water, keeping their hips high and allowing them to swim with less effort.
• Polyurethane panels in spots on the suit to further reduce drag in the water.
• A three-dimensional design — in that the suit is more like a second skin than a piece of clothing. It holds its form when not is use and doesn’t lie flat.

The improvements have been so drastic that some people have referred to the suit as “high-tech doping”. Swimmers at the Beijing Olympics this summer who are wearing the LZR will have a distinct advantage, so much so that athletes who are sponsored by other companies, like Nike, will be wearing them, rather than equipment from their main sponsor.

The Science of Sport weblog has been doing excellent reporting and analysis on this topic. The international governing body of swimming has approved the LZR for use in the Olympics, so it’s inevitable that other manufacturers will produce suits to compete with this breakthrough piece of equipment.