Speedo to bring back LZR Racer suit for record attempt
US swimmer Caeleb Dressel is to take part in an event that will bring back Speedo’s controversial LZR Racer suit.
In November, he broke the world record for the 50 metres freestyle, clocking a time of 20.16 seconds. Following this, Speedo asked him to take part in an unofficial event on December 10 to attempt to become the first athlete to swim 50 metres freestyle in under 20 seconds.
The swimsuit developer said it wanted to see what today’s top swimmers might be able to achieve using technological advances that are “not restricted” and said it would supply Caeleb Dressel with its LZR Racer suit for the event.
Speedo introduced the LZR Racer suit in 2008 in the build-up to the Beijing Olympics. It was made from 50% polyurethane and hugged the body up to 70 times tighter than other suits, reducing drag, providing a high level of muscle support and helping keep swimmers free in their range of motion.
At the Beijing games, 94% of all swimming gold medals were won by athletes wearing the LZR Racer, setting a series of world records in the process. Two years later, the sport’s international federation, FINA, banned the product and said suits must be made 100% from textiles.
Caeleb Dressel said he was looking forward to racing in the LZR suit. He pointed out that, being only 14 at the time, he was too young to have experienced “the hype” of the LZR Racer. “But I feel I am part of it now,” he said.
Brand director, Rob Holding, said on announcing the event that Speedo had been speculating for ten years about what a new generation of stronger and faster swimmers might achieve with the technology. “We’re really excited to find out what's possible,” he said.
