Olympic swimsuits: Fastskin 3

Olympic swimsuits All but two of the 25 records broken in swimming  events at the Beijing Olympics were done wearing the  now banned Speedo’s LZR Racer. Speedo’s new  Fastskin 3 suit claims to make swimmers even faster.

3-system suit 1

2 Goggles

Leak resistant; 180 degree peripheral vision lens

3

Cap 3D mapping used to fit head, face contours exactly

Streamlined suit Main focus is to reduce friction or drag a swimmer experiences in water • Hydrodynamic drag Water passing over the body as it moves through the pool

High stretch, allows movement

Fastskin 3 swimsuit

New guidelines ban full-body polyurethane suits Fabric provides compression; streamlines body

Compression panels

• Form drag Bumps, curves and muscle oscillations on swimmer’s body; hinder progress in water

Bonded seams reduce seams reduce water resistance

Better swimming 16.6%

5.2%

11%

Reduction in drag on swimsuit resistance

Reduction in drag on water’s surface

Improvement in swimmer’s oxygen; allows more powerful swimming