Speed Lzr Vs Speedo Aquablade

[Byron]

It is high time this word "ban" was used accurately - the fabric is not but the full body coverage is. In effect manufacturers will comply in most cases with what are now known as jammers ie the "waist to knee only" rule will be observed as is now required at competitions of international standard and for the recognition of new fast times in such events.

If you wish to know what Speedo products now conform to the FINA Rules of 2010 a list is provided on http://speedo.com/swimwear_products/...a_approved.htm

If other manufacturers consider they have fabrics to perform equal to or better than the LZR they can produce such within the rules - but they had better be wary of many extant Speedo patents.
Fabrics must be "textile" - the definition of which remains unclear.

The background to all this is Beijing 2008 where 79 of the many new world swimming records were achieved by competitors wearing LZR Racer Suits.
FINA met in 2009 to consider the implications of this and decided to act on the new super fabrics in terms of new rules for thickness, body coverage, buoyancy and other advantages - and, last but not least, the ability to gain medals by those with the fattest check books to afford the new technology.