Shark Skin Swimsuit
Ranked #2,159 in Sports & Recreation, #58,918 overall
You Can Swim Like A Shark!
Swimsuit technology has reached a new level with the revolutionary shark skin swimsuit. The Fastskin swimsuit, designed by Speedo, is a high performance full-body suit based on the science of shark skin. Shark skin is made up of dermal denticles, or placoid scales, which are tiny structures with microscopic properties that allow sharks to be one of the fastest streamlined fish in the sea.
When you wear a shark skin swimsuit you drastically reduce drag and turbulence, increase your speed and agility, and swim with the stealth of a shark! The shark skin swimsuit is NOT made from real shark skin. Instead, the fabric is designed to mimic shark skin.
The Fastskin Swimsuit
Inspired by shark skin!
The Fastskin swimsuit designed by Speedo, seen in the image being worn by Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps, is a swimsuit that is based on the science of shark skin.The high performance swimsuit replicates the technology that has been around for hundreds of millions of years... on sharks! Sharks are known to swiftly glide through the water due to tiny structures, called dermal denticles, that dramatically reduce drag and turbulence. Speedo has created a swimsuit that mimics this effect for swimmers.
The Fastskin has helped the best athletes in the world complete world record-breaking swims!
NOT Made From Real Sharks!
The Fastskin Shark Skin Swimsuit is NOT made from real shark skin. Instead, the fabric replicates the science and technology of a shark's natural skin and its characteristics that make it one of the fastest fish in the sea.
Would you swim in a shark skin swimsuit?
(not made from real shark skin of course!)
Shark Skin Swimsuits
The Science of Shark Skin
Why do we want swimsuits that mimic shark skin?
Sharks are covered in dermal denticles, or placoid scales, which are flat scales in the shape of a "V." However, these are not your average fish scales.
Dermal denticles on sharks are scales that are more related to teeth than normal fish scales. The microscopic features of dermal denticles significantly reduce drag and turbulence around the shark's skin which allows it to swim faster with stealth! The pattern of dermal denticles on a shark's body routes the flow of water in a special way while acting as a type of cushion that allows the shark to glide through the water with speed and precision while experiencing minimal drag.
These tiny teeth-like structures point toward the rear or the shark and point in that way only. If you were to feel the skin of the shark it would feel very smooth if you stroke it from head to tail, but it would feel as coarse as sandpaper if you stroke it in the opposite direction from tail to the head.
The image above is a microscopic view of the dermal denticles covering a shark.
Shark Skin
The dermal denticles covering a shark reduce drag and turbulence which allows the shark to swim faster with stealth!
High-Tech Swimsuit Banned From The Olympics!
Michael Phelps became the first swimmer to take home 8 Olympic medals (6 gold) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. What was Michael Phelps wearing? The Fastskin swimsuit. He was swimming like a shark!
Michael Phelps wasn't the only olympic swimmer wearing a shark skin swimsuit. A large percentage of record-breaking swims were broken by athletes wearing these shark skin swimsuits.
Many olympic athletes were so desperate to get their hands on these high-tech shark skin swimsuits that they ditched their corporate sponsorships just so they could wear these swimsuits!
Should Shark Skin Swimsuits Be Banned From The Olympics?
The Fastskin shark skin swimsuit is a high performance bodysuit that significantly reduces drag on a swimmer, is this unfair to Olympic competition? Would it force everybody else to wear one as well? Share your thoughts.
Does the shark skin swimsuit spoil the competition?
Yes, the shark skin swimsuit spoils the compeition.
elyria says:
Well, to be completely fair, I think either everyone should wear shark skin swimsuit or noone.
ThomasJ4 says:
As cool as I think the shark skin swimsuit is, I feel that the Olympics should remain based purely on talent and natural ability WITHOUT the assistance of high performance technology such as the Speedo Fastskin. Sure, if everyone has the option to wear one then it should be fair, but then everybody will be forced to wear one just to keep up with the competition.
Shark skin swimsuits are awesome for personal use, but not for the Olympics.
No, if everyone has the choice to wear one then its OK.
Raimund says:
One of the ways a competiton can be spoiled is if the playing field is not level for all competitors. In the case of the sharkskin swimsuit, the competitive playing field would be level in two cases: 1) if every competitor wore the sharkskin swimsuit OR 2) if no competitors wore the sharkskin swimsuit.
NorDac says:
Technology is part of any competition. What to eat, how to train, optimum body fat etc. That doesn't even cover the machines that monitor the training and help to develop specific muscles. While it used to be just the coach, it is now a whole team of trainers. Why should the suit be any different?
cffutah says:
lemme all decide is my vote.
ThomasJ4 says:
That is a very good point about the cyclists, SquidAddict.
1SquidAddict says:
Sharkskin costumes should not be banned as long as everyone has the opportunity to wear one. We don't stop the cyclists using those 'go faster' helmets so why should the swimmers be prevented from wearing a more efficient costume.
susannaduffy says:
Only for the sharks
Fastskin Sharkskin Swimsuits on Amazon
What do you think about shark skin swimsuits?
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elyria
Oct 2, 2011 @ 1:58 pm | delete
- Wow, I have never heard about shark skin swimsuit. Are the ones sold on Amazon real thing or just similar to real shark skin swimsuit? I would be interested to buy an authentic one.
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cffutah
Sep 30, 2011 @ 7:01 pm | delete
- think they are cool ... glad I browsed on your lens! If you like to browse lens as I do, mine has a great educational topic with poll questions for my readers to enjoy.
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mufke1
Sep 30, 2011 @ 12:39 pm | delete
- great lens...thanks for sharing..hope you will see some of mines
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brando87
Sep 30, 2011 @ 10:22 am | delete
- I remember doing case studies on this in my undergrad. great lens.
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seanschopf
Sep 28, 2011 @ 4:15 pm | delete
- Awesome lens. This topic is new to me. Thanks for sharing.
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susannaduffy
Sep 27, 2011 @ 2:19 am | delete
- As long as they're not made from sharks! Seriously, in the 21st century we expect scientific consideration and enhancement of competitive clothing in sports. The shark skin swimsuits are a wonderful advance
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ThomasJ4
Sep 27, 2011 @ 2:26 am | delete
- You are right, and I agree we should expect this kind of stuff. However I feel bad for previous record holders who are having their hard earned world records broken by people using high performance gear. But I guess thats just where things are headed.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Susanna!
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by ThomasJ4
I am a scientist who enjoys educating the public about important issues and informing individuals about opportunities to take action and make a difference.... more »
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