Does the Speedo LZR swimsuit give swimmers an unfair advantage?

We have previously talked about the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit, when it was undergoing review by swimming’s world governing body to determine if it was legal. They decided not to ban the suit, and now swimmers are feeling pressured to wear it because of the advantage it gives. Of the last 23 records broken since February 19th, the date the suit was released, all but one of the records was broken by someone wearing the suit. NASA helped Speedo design the LZR, and Speedo claims it makes swimmers “two percent faster,” which can be the difference between a gold medal and missing the podium completely in the Olympics.

The head coach of the United States swimming team has much to say about the suit, believing that it will result in dozens of world records being broken at the next Olympic games, if not all of them. Mark Schubert is urging American swimmers to wear the Speedo suit, no matter who is sponsoring them:

“I would strongly advise them to wear the suit at trials, or they may end up at home watching on NBC,” Schubert said. “Do you go for the money or for the gold? These athletes have been dreaming about winning an Olympic medal since they were eight or 10 years old and nobody can afford to give up two percent.”

Of course, Mark Schubert said all this while wearing a Polo shirt with the Speedo logo. However, in spite of that, the recent broken records is showing how this suit is improving swimmers time in noticeable ways.

Some have complained that the LZR Racer is “technological doping,” because the suit has more “buoyancy” than normal suits. FINA doesn’t agree, and won’t ban the suits over claims of buoyancy. Since these suits will be available during the Olympic games, don’t be surprised if you hear about many world records being broken in swimming, as that mere 2 percent boost shaves fractions of seconds off lap times.

The official site for the LZR swimsuit promises less drag, more water repellent ability, and more breathability. The full suit will only cost $550. We’ll never spend more than $15 on swimming trunks, but suppose Olympic teams and competitors see this suit as a bargain.

[CNN]

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