HERE'S WHAT I THINK
The 2008 Beijing Olympic swimmers will be wearing a futuristic space-age suit. Developed by top scientists in aerospace, engineering and medicine from around the world. These suits are water repellent and ultra lightweight.
NASA has tested these fastskin body suits with the same technology they test the space shuttle in a wind tunnel. By reducing the skin friction, these suits cut cleanly threw the water and the swimmer becomes streamlined like a dolphin, thus creating a low drag rocket effect in the water.
Speedo's LZR race suit or other copy cat suits may bring home more medals. With these suits, world records will be shattered.
My question is this: Should all athletes be given the same swim suit to wear? If you have seen the Jamaican bobsled movie, Cool Runnings, you know what I mean.
As technology advances forward, should we embrace it?
What do you think?
Curt and Kelly Wissink
Contents at a Glance
- Should The Speedo Lzr Style Swim Bodysuits be Banned From The Olympics?
- The Science Behind the Speedo Launches LZR RACER Video
- Speedo LZR RACER Suit Background
Should The Speedo Lzr Style Swim Bodysuits be Banned From The Olympics?
Olympic Swim Suit Divided Into The Haves and Have Nots
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No way, Monkeybrain!
KimberlyDawnWells says:
I believe getting up at 5am 365 days a year for 15 years is what truly separates the haves from the have nots. If you don't train and sacrifice, you don't have it. This suit won't make me an Olympian. It may give already great athletes a split second advantage.
Posted August 13, 2008
The Science Behind the Speedo Launches LZR RACER Video
Watch Top Scientists Research Findings and NASA's Testing
Speedo launches LZR RACER
Speedo launches the world's fastest swim suit which has been tested at NASA to prove it's superiority in the pool. The LZR ("Laser") RACER suit, tested in wind tunnels used by NASA to test the aerodynamic qualities of space shuttles, makes elite swimmers 5% more efficient in their oxygen intake so it is 'easier' for them to swim faster for longer . Test performances have led experts to believe the new suit will help swimmers shave valuable seconds off their times, which athletes are confident will result in more medals being won and more world records being broken by Speedo swimmers this year. The suit works by reducing the friction (or 'drag') that slows a swimmer down. Since the properties of water can not be changed, the goal is to make the swimmer's body as smooth and streamlined as possible. Developed over the past three years, the LZR RACER is made from an ultra light-weight fabric that actually repels water. It is ultrasonically welded together to form the world's first fully bonded suit, cutting down friction even further. By scanning more than 400 elite athletes including Michael Phelps (US) and Grant Hackett (Aus), the R&D team were able to place laser-cut ultra low-friction 'panels' specifically on those areas, which, along with the suit's corset-like compression, makes each individual swimmer as hydrodynamic as they can be. This means that each swimmer is held in the optimum shape and position to cut through the water in the most effective way, therefore saving them valuable energy which they can then use to swim faster! In tests the new suit reduced passive drag (the position a swimmer is in following a dive or a turn) by 10% compared to the Speedo suit worn in Athens in 2004. It also reduced skin friction or 'surface drag' (i.e. when the swimmer is on top of the water), by a massive 24% compared to the Speedo FASTSKIN (2000) and 38% more than standard Lycra. The results led World Record holder, Libby Lenton (Aus), to describe the experience as being "like swimming down hill"!
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Speedo LZR RACER Suit Background
- Speedo LZR RACER Suit
- Speedo has launched the Speedo LZR RACER suit, which independent testing has shown to be the world's fastest swimsuit.
- FastSkin History
- Speedo's history of suit innovation.
- Sleek suit swamps records
- Speedier Speedo credited as times fall on road to Beijing, but it has its pool of critics.
Records Fall at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
Incredible Photography
- Records Fall at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials - The Big Picture - Boston.com
- Two world records were set yesterday in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Michael Phelps broke his own world record in the men's 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:05.25, and Katie Hoff qualified for her second Olympics with her own world record in the women's 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:31.12. The trials will continue through July 6th. (13 photos total)
Olympic Updates
2008 Aust. Oly. Trials - Men's 50m Free - E. Sullivan WR Video
Speedo LZR Racer Suit News
- Speedo's suit divides swimming world
- CHICAGO: A revolutionary bodysuit has divided the world of swimming into the haves and the have nots just weeks before the Beijing Olympics, testing relationships between federations, athletes and rival suppliers.
- Speedo Makes a Splash With LZR Racer Suit - Advertising Age - News
- Riding the wave of publicity from its attention-getting, record-breaking LZR Racer swimsuit, Speedo now plans to adapt the technology for mainstream consumers.
- LZR Racer suit gets Olympic competition
- Several new high-tech swimsuits were approved Wednesday to compete with Speedo's record-breaking LZR Racer at the Beijing Olympics.
New bodysuits from Arena, Adidas and Mizuno were all given the go-ahead by swimming governing body FINA in an extraordinary meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Olympic Swim Suit News from Google
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Swim Goggles on eBay
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Competition Swimwear Stores
- Competition Swimwear
- Shop online for one piece, competition swimwear, learn to swim, racing suit, grab bag, polyester, thin strap, wide strap, thick strap, fly back, pro back, diamondback, maxback, team suit.
- Kiefer Swim - Speedo - TYR - Nike - Dolfin
- Kiefer offers the best selection of the swimwear and swim gear from Speedo, TYR, Nike, Dolfin and more!
- TYR Sport Online Store : TYR Sport Online Store
- TYR Sport Online Store : TYR Sport Online Store - Men,Youth,Women,Equipment,Sale,Swim Suits.
- News: June 19, 2008: French Swimmers Threaten World Record
- Amaury Leveaux darted off the blocks in a time of 48.81. He wore the TYR Tracer Rise when helped his French teammates make history. Amaury touched the wall in a quick time of 22.06 in the 50m Freestyle Finals.
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