LZR Racer

The LZR Racer Suit (pronounced as laser) is a line of high-end swimsuits manufactured by Speedo using a high-technology swimwear fabric composed of woven elastane-nylon and polyurethane. The technology is patented in Portugal, and protected worldwide.

Design and development

The suit, based on a unitard design, was developed in association with the Australian Institute of Sport, with the help of Speedo's sponsored athletes. NASA's wind tunnel testing facilities, and Ansys fluid flow analysis software supported the design. The line's cosmetics were designed in collaboration with Comme des Garçons.

Like other suits used for competition, it allows for better oxygen flow to the muscles, and holds the body in a more hydrodynamic position, while repelling water. The seams of the suit are ultrasonically welded to further reduce drag. The suits are manufactured at Petratex, a textile factory in Paços de Ferreira, Portugal; the technology is patented in that country.

Endorsed for competitive use by FINA prior to the Beijing Olympics, the suit reportedly can lower racing times for a competitor by 1.9 to 2.2 percent.

Marketing and results

Michael Phelps of the United States and Eamon Sullivan of Australia at the start of the 4x100 relay event at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing. Both are wearing LZR Racer swimsuits

The line was launched on February 13, 2008, and marketed as "the world's fastest swimsuit." It was the focus of Speedo's campaign for the 2008 Summer Olympics, spearheaded by Michael Phelps of the United States.

The Beijing Olympics proved to be an unprecedented success for the LZR Racer, with 94% of all swimming races won in the suit. In total 23 out of the 25 world records broken, were achieved by swimmers competing in the LZR suit As of August 14, 2008 (2008-08-14), 62 world records have been broken by swimmers wearing a LZR Racer, and 33 of the first 36 Olympic medals have been won wearing it.

The impressive apparent effects of wearing the suit led one of the coaches of Japan's Olympic swimming team to say "If swimmers don’t wear the LZR Racer, they won’t be able to compete in Beijing Olympics." This created a problem for the Japanese Olympic swimmers, who had exclusive contracts with swimsuit makers Mizuno, Asics, and Descente, preventing them from wearing the Speedo brand suits in the Olympics. However, the Japanese Swimming Federation subsequently decided to allow its athletes to choose their own suits freely.

FINA rule changes

Following the December 2008 European Short Course Championships in Croatia, where 17 world records fell, it was felt there was a need to modify the rules surrounding swimsuits. The combined effects of the LZR both compressing the body and trapping air for buoyancy led to many competitors who used the LZR wearing two or more suits for an increased effect. This led to some claiming that the LZR was in effect "technological doping."

At their meeting in Dubai in March 2009, FINA stipulated that swimsuits should not cover the neck, must not extend past the shoulders and ankles, and also limit the suits' thickness and buoyancy. In a statement FINA stated that:

Fina wishes to recall the main and core principle that swimming is a sport essentially based on the physical performance of the athlete.

The LZR Racer and all other Speedo Fast Skin Competition Suits were approved. However other suits like the BlueSeventy Nero Comp were banned first and afterwards released, too.

In an abrupt reversal of opinion, the FINA Congress voted almost unanimously to revert its previous policy and ban all body-length swimsuits; the decision was taken in Rome on July 24th, 2009, during the 2009 World Aquatics Championships. The new policy states that men's swimsuits may maximally cover the area from the waist to the knee, and women's counterparts from the shoulder to the knee. They also ruled that the fabric used must be a "textile" (i.e. woven rather than a foil). The new regulations are taking effect in 2010, not 2009.