New developments in performance swimwear, 2009 edition
Developments in swimwear technology have revolutionised swimming and have created massive interest in what has traditionally been a low-tech sport.
Manufacturers of performance swimwear have been involved in a technological race to produce the world’s fastest swimsuit. This race commonly referred to as “the bodysuit wars” culminated in early 2009 with the development of swimsuits constructed not from a textile but from 100% polyurethane.
The introduction of this new generation of performance swimwear coincided with a sharp improvement in swimming times which has fuelled a debate about whether high-tech suits provide their wearers with an unfair advantage. As a result of the controversy, polyurethane suits will be banned from competitive swimming with effect from January 1, 2010. From that date, competitive swimmers will be required to wear textile suits, and these must not extend further than the knee.
Following the ban on full length non-textile suits, performance swimwear manufacturers now have less leeway in their choice of design and materials. Consequently, they will face a major challenge in their quest to develop fast and innovative new swimsuits.
Manufacturers of performance swimwear have been involved in a technological race to produce the world’s fastest swimsuit. This race commonly referred to as “the bodysuit wars” culminated in early 2009 with the development of swimsuits constructed not from a textile but from 100% polyurethane.
The introduction of this new generation of performance swimwear coincided with a sharp improvement in swimming times which has fuelled a debate about whether high-tech suits provide their wearers with an unfair advantage. As a result of the controversy, polyurethane suits will be banned from competitive swimming with effect from January 1, 2010. From that date, competitive swimmers will be required to wear textile suits, and these must not extend further than the knee.
Following the ban on full length non-textile suits, performance swimwear manufacturers now have less leeway in their choice of design and materials. Consequently, they will face a major challenge in their quest to develop fast and innovative new swimsuits.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Full length bodysuit
BIOMECHANICS OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMING
Drag
Buoyancy
HISTORY OF SWIMWEAR
FABRICS USED FOR SWIMWEAR AND FABRIC PROPERTIES
Developments in swimwear fabrics
Key properties of swimwear fabrics
Types of swimwear fibres and fabrics
Elastane
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
Nature-inspired fabrics
Polyurethane
Nano fabrics
CHARACTERISTICS OF PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR
Features designed to reduce drag
Designs of performance swimwear
Innovations in performance swimwear
PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR REGULATIONS
Controversy surrounding performance swimwear regulations
SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR MARKET
KEY PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR BRANDS
Adidas: Hydrofoil
Arena: Powerskin
Diana: Submarine
Jaked: J01
Speedo: LZR Racer
Tyr: Tracer
OUTLOOK
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Shark skin
Figure 2: Hydrofoil
Figure 3: Powerskin
Figure 4: Submarine
Figure 5: J01
Figure 6: LZR Racer
Figure 7: Tyr Tracer
INTRODUCTION
Full length bodysuit
BIOMECHANICS OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMING
Drag
Buoyancy
HISTORY OF SWIMWEAR
FABRICS USED FOR SWIMWEAR AND FABRIC PROPERTIES
Developments in swimwear fabrics
Key properties of swimwear fabrics
Types of swimwear fibres and fabrics
Elastane
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
Nature-inspired fabrics
Polyurethane
Nano fabrics
CHARACTERISTICS OF PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR
Features designed to reduce drag
Designs of performance swimwear
Innovations in performance swimwear
PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR REGULATIONS
Controversy surrounding performance swimwear regulations
SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR MARKET
KEY PERFORMANCE SWIMWEAR BRANDS
Adidas: Hydrofoil
Arena: Powerskin
Diana: Submarine
Jaked: J01
Speedo: LZR Racer
Tyr: Tracer
OUTLOOK
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Shark skin
Figure 2: Hydrofoil
Figure 3: Powerskin
Figure 4: Submarine
Figure 5: J01
Figure 6: LZR Racer
Figure 7: Tyr Tracer
