As the Paris Olympics approach, swimmers are turning to the latest cutting-edge swimsuits, hoping these high-tech innovations will give them a competitive edge. In a sport where medals can be determined by mere fractions of a second, every advantage counts. The evidence, however, remains inconclusive.
The technological edge
Speedo has introduced a new version of its Fastskin LZR Racer suit, touted as the most water-repellent suit yet. Drawing inspiration from space travel, the suit claims to provide a sense of “weightlessness” in the water. Top swimmers such as Emma McKeon from Australia, American Caeleb Dressel, and Britain’s Adam Peaty will be donning this advanced attire, striving to shave every hundredth of a second off their times.
“It’s my own little Speedo rocket suit,” said Dressel, a freestyle and butterfly ace who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in an earlier version of the suit. “I’m feeling confident that the (new) suit is going to help me,” he added.
McKeon, who secured seven medals, including four gold, at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, described her new attire as “faster than ever,” with water “just gliding off.”
Innovation meets swimming
The technology behind these suits borrows from satellite protection techniques. The development is part of a long-standing battle for supremacy among brands like Arena, Mizuno, and Jaked, all striving to push the boundaries further.
“The biggest factor in swimming, because it’s in water, is drag, which is far and away the main detractor for speed,” said Kevin Netto, an exercise science specialist at the Curtin School of Allied Health in Perth. “So anything that will change drag forces, it’s worth its weight in gold.”
Swimsuits have evolved through various materials over the years, from flannel and rayon to modern fabrics like nylon and lycra. However, they must now be made from permeable materials as mandated by World Aquatics, following the controversy over Speedo’s full bodysuit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This suit, which was branded as “technological doping,” significantly reduced drag and boosted buoyancy and muscle support, leading to numerous world records.
The current standards
World Aquatics banned polymer-based suits from 2010 due to their performance-enhancing properties. Full body suits are also prohibited, with current regulations allowing suits to cover only from the kneecap to the navel for men and from the knee to the shoulder for women.
Today’s swimsuits focus on minimizing surface drag and compressing the body to enhance streamlining. “If they provide some sort of compression, you don’t have any wobbling mass in the water,” Netto explained. “It basically keeps the human shape very, very streamlined, you don’t produce more oscillation or wave drag.”
The evidence debate
Despite extensive research, the impact of these advanced suits on performance remains debated. In 2019, the European University of Madrid reviewed 43 studies on the subject and found no clear consensus. “Controversies exist as there are those who believe fervently that these swimsuits have had some benefit for performance in general,” the study noted. “However, the lack of evidence to clarify such opinions places any consensus among researchers in doubt, despite the years that have passed.”
Beyond swimsuits
The technological advancements are not limited to swimsuits. Modern eye-wear now offers real-time insights while swimming, tracking various metrics displayed inside the goggles. However, such technology is not permitted at the Olympics.
As the Paris Olympics near, swimmers and spectators alike will watch closely to see if these technological innovations translate into gold medals. Whether the latest swimsuits will provide a decisive edge or remain part of the ongoing debate about performance-enhancing technology, one thing is clear: the quest for speed in the pool continues to evolve.
