Competitive swimmers now wear special swimsuits (bodyskins) including partial and full bodysuits, racerback styles, jammers, and racing briefs to assist their glide through the water and gain speed advantages. This is some of the most technically advanced swimwear ever made, using unique fabrics that fit like a second skin for minimal drag and turbulence around the body.

Suits of this type provide full body coverage from the ankles to the neck and wrists, though some sleeveless designs also exist. Speedo also produces a bodysuit especially for the backstroke. Other variations of this are the Legskin and the Kneeskin.

Less Drag

If the suit material offers less drag than skin, then it should cover most of the skin. Speedo and Adidas (as do other manufacturers) claim their material offers less drag. Another example of material that is "slicker than skin" is Arena's "X-Flat" material, 4.8% lower in drag compared to your skin. Covering more skin started with a men's suit that covered the torso, then evolved into the longer leg suit with the torso cover option.

Muscle Compression

They also offer compression, allowing the muscles to work more efficiently. Now, it looks like either a long-leg suit or full body suit is at the cutting edge. The Teflon finished Adidas "Equipment Fullbody" suit is designed to give increased power and stroke accuracy while decreasing muscle fatigue and drag due to its compression fabric.

Controversy

There has been some controversy over the new designs, but suits have been moving towards covering more skin for several years. The problem is that these new suits may offer a significant advantage to the wearer (Rushall, 1999), which appears to be against the rules. The full body suit is now an accepted item in the Olympics. Records are broken by athletes in suits from the turn of the century; the 21st century.

Fabrics

Nylon and Lycra spandex with Teflon are mainly used. Lycra Power materials increase speed and endurance by using compression. This compression holds the body better in the water, stimulates skin receptors for a more accurate, efficient swim stroke and allows for faster recovery times due to increased blood circulation. The "Second Skin Fit" provides maximum flexibility and freedom of movement by preventing water from penetrating at the neck, wrists and ankles, thus reducing water retention. Strategically placed flatlock seams reduce water drag and add comfort.

Some fabric stretching occurs with each wearing. Swimmers are advised to wear the suits a few times at practice, to produce some accommodating stretch, before using them in races.

The fabric of some suits mimics the rough shark denticles to reduce drag in key areas of the body and compresses the body to stop skin vibration and muscle oscillation to save energy and reduce drag.

Minor difficulties with these suits may occur at the start as it could be harder to bend down and assume a good starting position. At turns the degree of hip flexion could be reduced a little bit causing turns to be slightly slower than when full flexion is accommodated. But this effect is minimal and will soon disappear with the introduction of new fabrics.

Suppliers

Arena
Speedo
Tyr