Many innovations and new technologies emerge each day touting that they can do this or that. But, ultimately, as the old saying goes: the proof of the pudding is the eating (or, more commonly nowadays: the proof is in the pudding). No matter how you phrase it, the bottom line is that results are what count - not claims or hype. And, if that truly is the case, then the Speedo LZR Racer is the real deal.
Since the new swimsuit emerged in February, 38 world records have been broken by swimmers wearing the suit. That amazing number has to be seen as undeniable proof that the suit makes swimmers faster. And that number encompasses individuals of both sexes, across cultures. In fact, just June 7th, Kosuke Kitajima of Japan set a world record in the men's 200-meter breaststroke wearing the suit. Kitajima finished in 2 minutes 7.51 seconds - taking almost a second off the previous mark set in 2006. But with great success (which Speedo claims has “exceeded their expectations”) also has come controversy and that other type of suit – a lawsuit.
Designed with help from the geniuses at NASA (who seem to have a hand in all sorts of new technologies these days), the LZR Racer is a skintight full-body suit that boasts it can give swimmers less passive drag, increase oxygen efficiency and helps swimmers move faster in starts, sprints and turns. Some have suggested that the tight fit of the LZR suit not only streamlines the body but also engages the central nervous system. Others say that this new piece of swimwear is increasing buoyancy to a performance-enhancing level - though the suit meets the guidelines set by FINA, the sport’s international governing body. While FINA claims no scientific evidence supports claims that the LZR Racer gives swimmers a competitive advantage, many remain skeptical.
As buzz about the suit continues to grow (a LZR suit was displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York), swimmers using other equipment are becoming disgruntled. Kosuke Kitajima’s desire to wear the LZR Racer caused the Japanese team to ditch its contract with Mizuno and two other suppliers. And many other teams are considering breaking contracts and sponsorships to wear the new Speedo suit, sending manufacturers into a frenzy to upgrade their bodysuits before the all-important Summer Olympics. TYR Sport Inc. went as far as to file a lawsuit against Warnaco Swimwear Inc., the parent company of Speedo, claiming the company has created a climate in which elite athletes have been led to believe they cannot excel on the world stage unless they wear the LZR Racer.
On the positive side, the debate over the LZR suit has provided a slew of great quotes. Australian swimmer Libby Lenton said it made her feel like she was “swimming down hill”, while Michel Phelps is quoted as saying the suit made him feel “like a rocket off the wall”. And Olympic hopeful Dara Torres claims the suit makes her move through the water “like a knife through butter”. But, the best (and most controversial) quotes have come from the coaches. One coach, who has worked with several Olympic gold medalists, described the suits as “drugs on a hanger”, while another referred to it as “technological doping”. A Speedo representative mocked such claims with his own quote: “The last time I dropped the suit in a pool, it didn’t get very far.”
The Speedo LZR Racer will be available for retail purchase in October. Individuals can pre-order various LZR Racer suits at the Speedo online store (men’s and women’s high neck bodyskins are priced at $550).
