Speedo’s Latest Swimsuit Breaking Records

  Bonded Material With the 2008 Summer Olympics fast approaching, swimmers aretraining hard to grab the gold, but a new swimsuit might becreating an unfair competition. Since the arrival of Speedo's LZR Racer swimsuit back in February, athletes using the gear have set 37 worldrecords. The hype has people questioning whether the swimsuitshould be used in upcoming Olympic Games. Some critics and sportsgoverning bodies have noted that the new gear is performanceenhancing, thus creating an unfair advantage for others. However, not all athletes have access to such technology. In thecase of Japan's national team, their swimmers are licensed to wearspecific swimsuits made by local manufacturers. Some athletes doprefer the Speedo swimsuit, but it's not up to them, the decisioncan only be made by the Olympic committee. The concept of the LZR Racer swimsuit was first created by Aqualab(Speedo's global research and development facility). By workingwith word-class experts from industries such as aerospace,engineering and medicine, they were able to create the swimsuit. The following are the main features of this unique design: - LZR Pulse - The swimsuit is created from Speedo's unique LZR Pulse fabric.This specific material is lightweight, water repellent and itreduces muscle oscillation and skin vibration through powerfulcompression. - LZR Panels - These thin and powerful panels embedded at certain points on aswimmer's body create a streamlined figure which helps reduce skinfriction drag. - Core Stabilizer - The internal and core stabilizer helps support and hold theswimmer in a certain grip and helps them maintain the best bodyposition underwater. - Bonded Seams - The LZR Racer suit is the world's first bonded bodysuit; thebonded seams help create a smooth and flexible surface. With such unique designs and features, Speedo claims that the LZRRacer swimsuit is four per cent faster in starts, sprints and turnsand has a five per cent better oxygen efficiency. Speedo has alsogotten some help from professional swimmers. Athletes such asMichael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin have assisted Speedo with theadvertising and development of the swimsuit. But it doesn't matter who wears the swimsuit; it comes down towhether the Olympic committee will allow the product to be used inthe Beijing Olympics. Other sports don't have a lot of problemswhen it comes to certain types of gear. However, when it comes toswimming, suits are specifically design to help the performance ofathletes. Speedo took the performance to a next level and may havejust blown any other competition out of the water.