SYDNEY: It's not often that US space agency NASA and the humble swimsuit are mentioned in the same breath.
Leading swimwear company Speedo's latest offer is no humble swimsuit however. The trademarked Speedo LZR racer – launched on February 12 – is the world's first fully bonded, ultrasonically welded suit.
It is also ranked, following independent testing, as "the world's fastest swimsuit".
Made from an ultra lightweight, low drag, water repellent, fast drying fabric exclusive to Speedo and dubbed LZR Pulse, the LZR Racer will be worn by the Australian Olympic Team at the Beijing Olympics later this year.
The suit features ultra low drag LZR panels embedded into the base fabric to create a "Hydro Form Compression system" compressing the swimmer’s body into a streamlined shape and enabling them to cut through the water with enhanced agility.
Swimming star Grant Hackett said he had been "blown away" by the technology.
"It’s the best suit yet and looks like something out of a futuristic movie. It feels great. You feel so streamlined through the water, it’s like you’re cutting through the water like a hot knife through butter."
"In terms of improving performance, I think the Speedo LZR Racer will obviously make a big impact and I don’t think we’ll be saying 'Houston we have a problem' because I think the Speedo LZR Racer is out of this world."
Speedo – which was founded in 1928 – spent more than three years on the suit, scanning the bodies of more than 400 elite swimmers and testing more than 100 different fabrics and designs, confirmed Speedo Australia general manager Rob Davies.
"We are particularly proud, in our 80th year, to be launching the Speedo LZR RACER which has broken new boundaries in performance swimwear and which we know will help elite athletes achieve their ultimate performances in 2008. It’s our 80th birthday present to the world of swimming," Davies said.
Speedo LZR Racer debuts at the NSW Open Championships in mid-February. The retail version of the suit will go on sale in May 2008.