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.

[Byron]

List referred to above should be
http://www.speedo.co.uk/s111swimrang...ts_1index.html

[Byron]

http://www.speedo.co.uk/en-uk/s111sw...s_1/index.html

[louis]

Efectively I did read about what you say, and must admit yes its not the material thats bene banned but the full couverage, I had bene informed about thar detail but but had forgotten it you refreshed my memory.

[Byron]

After about fifty attempts I shall now send the correct link:

http://www.speedo.co.uk/en_uk/s111sw...s_1/index.html

[Byron]

2008 produced more arguments than I thought - TYR even sued Speedo.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7558622.stm

Btw, Arena Adidas and Jaked also seem to be in the game for new fabrics
but the earlier predictions for world records in London 2012 to surpass the amazing events of Beijing 2008 are now considered far too optimistic in view of the new FINA Rules in force.

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

On the more practical and humorous side, getting in and out of the full or fuller coverage suits is a task in itself. When the full body suits were allowed, it took two people to get you in and out (which made for a situation in itself). Also, once in, the suits were in many ways far more revealing than just briefs... and damn tight.

[Swimmboy]

Byron - it wasn't so much the 2008 Olympics that led to the banning of the new suits - some 19 world records were set there, but 7 of those were entirely or partially (relays) by the amazing Michael Phelps (a young man I've had the pleasure of meeting personally). What happened was that a bunch of new suit companies entered the market on a world-wide scale and tried to 'out-do' each other as the fastest, slickest, etc. Fabrics became rubberized, in direct violation of the rules forbidding anything that aids in flotation. The following year, at the 2009 World Swim Championships in Rome, virtually everyone (except Phelps, who lost to Biederman in the 200 free who wore a now-illegal suit) was wearing the new suits, and world records were falling every few minutes as one heat swam faster than the previous heat. 43 new world records were set. Swimmers who previously ranked 5th or 7th in the world suddenly set a world record, only to lose it a few minutes later. The situation was absurd, and FINA belatedly created new requirements (textile suits only, nothing below the knees or above the navel for men). Any world records set in London this summer will truly be amazing accomplishments.

[Crail]

Byron, thanks for your tenacity in finding the right URL to post and your informative posts.