When swimmers dive into the pool at Paris’ Aquatics Centre starting July 27 and into the Seine River on August 8 and 9, they'll be competing in suits vastly different from those worn 100 years ago when the City of Lights last hosted the Olympics. Today's swim teams no longer wear itchy, heavy woolen briefs or singlets, nor see-through silk suits. Instead, they sport high-tech racing suits designed for maximum performance.
Advancements in Swimwear Technology
Despite the unchanged physical forces and fierce competition of international swimming, swimsuit technology has made remarkable progress. At times, it advanced too far, which is understandable in a sport where the difference between gold and silver is often less than a blink of an eye.
Understanding Drag
Physics remains constant regardless of the year or the swimwear. Water is over 700 times denser and 55 times more viscous than air, creating significant resistance. “There are two main forces: thrust, which propels you forward, and drag, which resists you,” explains Timothy Wei, a fluid dynamicist at Northwestern University. “The faster the swimmer, the greater the drag.”
Drag is divided into three parts: pressure drag (similar to the force pushing your arm back when you stick it out of a moving car), viscous or friction drag (a rubbing motion when water hits the swimmer's body), and wave drag (water piling up in front of the swimmer, creating resistance).
The Evolution of Swimwear Materials
Early swimsuits, or “swimming costumes,” were woolen and absorbed a lot of water, becoming heavy and saggy. This extra material could slow swimmers down and increase the risk of drowning. Silk suits, introduced in 1912, were sleeker and absorbed less water but were see-through and required underwear for modesty.
By the mid-20th century, nylon made swimsuits smoother and tighter, improving swimmers' speed. Lycra continued this trend until the early 21st century. However, technological advances sometimes went too far. Before the 2008 Olympics, Speedo's LZR Racer suit, made of nylon, Lycra, and non-textile polyurethane, significantly reduced drag but was later banned for providing an unfair advantage.
Modern Race Suits
Today, swimsuits must adhere to strict regulations set by World Aquatics (formerly FINA) to balance performance and fairness. Speedo’s LZR Intent 2.0 and LZR Valor 2.0, and TYR’s Venzo suits are designed using advanced materials science to minimize drag. Arena’s PowerSkin Primo suits, costing up to $650, offer high compression and elasticity, allowing peak muscle performance without restriction.
Compression suits work like tight rubber bands, reducing drag but potentially limiting flexibility. Arena's suits use tensoelastic fabric, providing high compression while maintaining stretch. These suits, made with thermo polyurethane (TPU), are chlorine-resistant, hydrophobic, and maintain their compression longer than traditional materials.
The Psychological Edge
Getting into these suits can be a challenge, as demonstrated by Olympian Elizabeth Beisel. The tight fit is essential for performance, but it requires effort to put on. Despite the difficulty, the right suit can provide a mental edge, making swimmers feel faster and stronger.