Why some types of swimsuits are banned at the Olympics

Olympic swimmers abide by strict guidelines that govern particular person occasions, however these guidelines prolong past the pool to incorporate the fashion of and materials their swimsuits are manufactured from. 

For years, the Olympics has barred swimmers from sporting full-body swimsuits and fits manufactured from sure supplies following the widespread adoption of fits the competitors felt gave an unfair benefit to sure athletes at earlier video games.

Forward of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Speedo launched its LZR swimsuit, developed with help from NASA. The area company famous that 25 world data in swimming have been set through the Beijing 2008 Olympic Video games, and that 23 have been set by athletes sporting the LZR.

The Olympics now calls these video games “a second when know-how went too far.” In a June publish, the Olympics defined that the “super-suits” manufactured from polyurethane or different non-textile supplies have been banned as a result of they have been seen to offer a larger benefit to bigger athletes.

Altering guidelines round swimsuits

In 2009, Michael Phelps — who received a document eight medals in 2008 in Beijing — missed out on two finals and barely certified for a 3rd as he swam in an old-style swimsuit. Experiences from the time present that most different swimmers he competed in opposition to used sooner, high-tech fits.

FINA, now often known as World Aquatics, in 2009 determined to ban using swimsuits with polyurethane throughout competitions. The principles, requiring textile-only material fits, went into impact in 2010.

The steerage additionally says males’s swimsuits “shall not prolong above the navel nor beneath the knee and for ladies shall not cowl the neck or prolong previous the shoulders nor shall prolong beneath the knee.” 

Speedo invited college students to provide you with methods to recycle the fits after the ban, CBS Information beforehand reported. 

How NASA labored with Speedo on the high-tech swimsuits 

Shortly after the 2004 Olympics, Speedo-USA reached out to NASA for assist develop a swimsuit that lower down on drag, based on a NASA publish. 

“Whereas most individuals wouldn’t affiliate area journey with swimwear, rocket science is strictly what SpeedoUSA determined to attempt,” NASA wrote in 2008. 

Researchers examined materials utilizing a wind tunnel and a water flume, based on NASA. On the finish, that they had the LZR Racer, which NASA mentioned lowered pores and skin friction drag 24% greater than the earlier Speedo racing go well with material. 

Different guidelines round swimwear

In response to the Olympics, there’s additionally a ban on goggles for synchronized swimmers. In response to the Olympics web site, whereas swimmers follow with goggles throughout coaching, they’re banned throughout competitions. 

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