Just how fast can a swimsuit be?

It is interesting to note the furore over the latest Speedo swimsuit, the LZR Racer bodysuit. It has been designed with the help of NASA and, get this, apparently "aids streamlining and reduces skin vibration and muscle oscillation". It has welded, rather than stitched, seams, and is partly made from neoprene, so may increase buoyancy.

Of course people are going to say that it has been responsible for 36 world records so far since its release 2 months ago, but there's another side to this story.

First of all, it is Olympic year. Athletes the world over are essentially 'jockeying' for position in the run-up to the games. Some of the major Nations have had their Olympic trials. The Aussies broke eight records at their trials. But even the best swimmers have to be at their best to qualify for the Australian team. LZR suit or no LZR suit. We've also had a European Championship, and a World short course championship. That's a lot of fast swimming in a small amount of time.

And 18 of these records were set at the World short course champs. Now, I know that there were some real stars that didn't turn up, but there were plenty of great swimmers there, in great shape after - or before - attempting to qualify for the Olympics and - perhaps importantly - treating it as a bit of fun. That makes for fast times. The Olympic finals will be a whole lot more serious, more about winning than anything else - including times.

Perhaps Speedo realised that the stage was set for them to release their new costume, and planned the release to coincide with this period of frenetic competition. No? Maybe the release date was an accident and not a clever piece of marketing at all?

We'll never know what difference the suit can make until there are controlled tests and the results released. But that may now be impossible anyway, if the swimmers believe that it will make a difference. As Kirsty Coventry, one of the world record breakers said "Getting this suit on for me is a lot about mentality, having that extra edge and confidence, but it's about the swimmer at the end of the day."

Rob Robson

Sport Psychologist, Warwickshire