Ultimately, though, the proof will be in the pool in London. Santry hopes to get down to London to see a few races. Meanwhile, he's already working on the next generation of suit for the 2016 Rio games. “We've got some brilliant ideas going forward,” he says, “but I’m afraid they’re all confidential at the moment.”

This feature is courtesy of Smithsonian.com, our content partner in bringing you everything you'll want to know about the Summer Olympic Games, and is part of its Guide to the Games report.

10 Comments

1. 1. gregw@2025 03:17 PM 7/27/12

   In recent months I have heard of polyurethane and polyethylene being used to do amazing things as part of next-generation body armor, sports equipment and artificial hips. And now competitive swimsuits. Amazing.

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2. 2. Kingoftheinternet 01:27 AM 7/28/12

   The simplest solution to this problem is to require all competitors to be completely naked. Swimming is seeing technology external to that which alters the body now, instead of later, because fluid dynamics are already somewhat well-understood; we can expect uniforms to play a greater role in performance in many other Olympic competitions in the near future. Asking competitors to abandon the notion of "pure" competition is a bit much a bit too fast, but a ban on clothing is very easy to explain, and solves much of the problem.

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3. 3. Bops 09:57 PM 7/28/12

   All the men wear the same suits.
   

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4. 4. Chrysallis 12:03 AM 7/30/12

   I agree with Kingoftheinternet that if we really want our athletes to be purists in their quest for Olympic glory based purely on physical strength and ability is to do it completely naked. However, we all know that it's never going to happen that way. The next best thing is to embrace modernity and make sure that all the Olympians have access to the same kind of high tech suits/gears to even out the playing field among athletes from poor and rich countries.

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5. 5. locke2demosthenes 12:40 AM 7/30/12

   I'm sorry, but...Captain Avenger? Really?

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6. 6. Achille Talon in reply to Kingoftheinternet 12:59 AM 7/30/12

   Even without clothes, swimsuit, they can find way to modify the body itself with microsurgical interventions to add buoyancy with implanted airtight nanotubes or some other kind of material. That's not the obligation to go nake that will stop the imagination to find ways to circumvent the rules.

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7. 7. Dr. Strangelove 05:20 AM 7/30/12

   The LZR suit probably improves performance bec. Phelps set 7 world records wearing it. Now he can't even get 3rd place without the suit. Adding bouyancy and reducing drag are even more effective in long distance swimming.
   
   Hmm I should try that LZR suit to improve my time in 1.5 km swim in triathlon. But removing it afterwards would waste time. I can't wear it cycling and running.

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8. 8. KapCarl 06:39 AM 7/31/12

   The controversial discussion of the use of technology to enhance human performance in the competitive arena is going to have to quicken itself in order to keep up with the technology. That said - TCT Magazine wrote an article about how Speedo's Aqualab uses Objet 3D printers in their design process: http://ow.ly/cvwtK If you're interested in other stories about 3D printing being used in the world of sports, check out Objet's Facebook page where we are covering the topic during the Olympics: https://www.facebook.com/Objet.3d.printer. Disclaimer - I work for Objet.

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9. 9. hybrid 06:53 PM 8/1/12

   You know this is about productive as designing a powered golf club and a radar tracking golf ball. Is there no end to this attempt to make all records meaningless and turn the games into a design contest. Of course it makes millions for the designer but ignores the spirit of the Olympics. Contestants now get there expenses paid, and need not work like a true amateur would. The disgrace of including professional basket ball players because of Russia's dominance,and professional tennis players for the same misbegotten reason. Millions spent in research to win a medal worth about 10 bucks. Millions spent in advertising etc, etc. to Corporation's delight.
   Enough I say ---- "enough no more it is not as sweet as twas before"

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10. 10. hybrid in reply to hybrid 06:57 PM 8/1/12

    read their for there

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