Some swimmers who will compete in the Paris Olympics this month are banking on innovation to be their ally. Major swimwear brand Speedo has released its latest version of its Fastskin LZR Racer wetsuit. The brand claims that not only are the suits water-repellent, but they also provide a feeling of weightlessness in the water.
Interesting engineering reports that Emma McKeon from Australia, Caeleb Dressel from the United States and Adam Peaty from Great Britain will be using these swimsuits.
Dressel called it her own “little Speedo rocket swimsuit,” and McKeon said her new outfit is “faster than ever” with water “just gliding off” the dress.
The article also states that it is a seamless swimsuit, partly made of polyurethane, jointly designed by NASA, to provide buoyancy and sufficient muscle support. This helps swimmers swim faster and longer.
The Australian Olympic Committee also partnered with Speedo a few months earlier.
Interesting engineering Anna Meares, Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024, said: “Australian athletes are delighted with the look, fit and feel of the Speedo uniforms. Thank you to Speedo for your continued support of the athletes and ensuring our swimmers, water polo players, divers and surfers look and feel their best while competing at Paris 2024.”
The article also suggests that in addition to the physical advantage, swimsuits could also boost swimmers’ morale, as they will feel much faster wearing a technical swimsuit and this will increase confidence and motivation leading to better performances.
However, an article on Scientific alert, claims there is no conclusive evidence that these suits help improve swimmers’ performance.
The article cites a 2019 study from the European University of Madrid, which reviewed 43 studies on the topic and concluded that there was no clear consensus.
“There is controversy because some people strongly believe that these swimsuits had a beneficial effect on overall performance,” he said.
Published July 07, 2024, 1:43 p.m. IST
