Why was the Speedo LZR banned?

The LZR Racer (pronounced as “laser”) is a line of competition swimsuits manufactured by Speedo using a high-technology swimwear fabric composed of woven elastane-nylon and polyurethane. They were deemed to provide an unfair advantage to the wearer by FINA, which led to a ban on all swimsuits of a similar nature.

What is so special about the Speedo LZR swimsuit?

So what is so special about the LZR Racer? According to Speedo, the suit reduces drag, or water resistance, by 38% compared with an ordinary LYCRA suit. This reduction in drag translates into approximately a 4% increase in speed for swimmers.

When was the Speedo LZR banned?

2010
By 2010, the fate of the LZR racer was sealed: FINA, the international governing body of swimming banned swimsuits that might aid speed, buoyancy and performance — including the LZR Racer. The wording of that by-law stands to this day and is clearly influenced by the science that made the LZR Racer so damn fast.

How long do Speedo LZR suits last?

Generally, tech suits last about 10 swimming meets or about 30 to 40 swims. Once the tech suit starts to stretch out and lose its water repellency it won’t provide optimal performance benefits anymore.

What does LZR stand for?

LZR

Why are tech suits banned?

For many years, FINA has been approving high-end tech suits with an official FINA mark on the suits in order to distinguish legal racing suits ever since the days of polyurethane suits, which were banned over a decade ago for their added buoyancy and last used at the 2009 World Championships.

How many times can you wear a Kneeskin?

1. Don’t wear any more than you have to. Racing suits don’t last long, and the best kneeskins for swimmers, despite all of their space-age material and fabric, deteriorate when faced with abrasive pool chemicals. After about a dozen wears they begin to stretch and degrade fairly quickly.