For decades swimsuit improvements have helped world-class athletes swim faster and faster. But it wasn't until relatively recently that that technological arms race started forcing the swimming world to draw a line. The newest Speedo invention hit the water at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and many think the suit—like certain predecessors—will help competitors take down world records. Scientific American looks at just how far we've come in clothing our quickest swimmers.
Wikimedia Commons/Clemens PFEIFFERIntroduction of the Racerback
Swimmer Arne Borg breaks 32 world records wearing a "racerback" style swimsuit, which allows swimmers to swing their arms more freely. Clara Dennis (center, standing) then sets a new world record in the 200-meter breast stroke wearing a similar suit, but is almost disqualified for showing "too much shoulder blade."
Wikimedia Commons/Flickr/State Library of New South WalesSpeedo Begins Using Nylon
Speedo begins using nylon in its suits—a stronger, smoother fabric that reduces drag. Jon Henricks breaks the 100-meter freestyle world record wearing a nylon Speedo in 1956.
Wikimedia Commons/BrendanmccabePolyurethane Enhanced Swimsuits
Suits enhanced with polyurethane and rubber that cover a swimmer from neck to ankle are approved for the Sydney Olympic Games. The more of the body that is covered, the more smoothly the swimmer can move through the water.
Wikimedia Commons/VerbatimdatSpeedo LZR Unveiled in Beijing
The Speedo LZR polyurethane swimsuit is released for the Beijing Olympics to much fanfare. Perhaps deservedly so—94 percent of the swimming races that year were won in the LZR. Racers in LZR suits set 23 new world records. The suit was designed with help from NASA. Its panels helped reduce muscle vibration that can add to oxygen use and fatigue, improved a swimmer's buoyancy and minimized drag.
NASAFINA Institutes Regulations
Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), the governing body that regulates swimming, decides that swimsuits were getting out of hand. Its new rules require that the garments cannot cover the neck or go past the shoulders and ankles. Suits also have to fall within the set limits of thickness and buoyancy. In their official decision, the regulators wrote, "FINA wishes to recall the main and core principle that swimming is a sport essentially based on the physical performance of the athlete."
Wikimedia Commons/Sway 2FINA Bans Non-Textile Swimsuits
FINA decides to further push back against technologically advanced suits and ban all "non-textile" swimsuits, notably polyurethane. Also, suits must not go past swimmers' knees. Men's suits cannot go above the waist, and women's cannot go past the shoulders. The decision essentially outlaws all high-tech swimsuits on the market. Many think that world records will stay put until the ban is reversed.
Flickr/cmaccubbinFastSkin3
Speedo unveils the FastSkin3, a suit, cap and goggle system that the company claims can reduce a swimmer's drag by 16.6 percent underwater and 5.2 percent on the surface via a more streamlined body profile and by reducing bubble formation. It remains to be seen whether the FaskSkin3 can live up to its LZR predecessor.
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