People have gone so far as to label their use as "technical doping". 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.

January 2010 Following years of controversy around the performance enhancement of racing suits, FINA in 2008 implemented a ban on their production . Although the ban did not come into effect until January 2010, new laws deemed the Speedo LZR an illegal and therefore obsolete product.

2010 Following the FINA ban of 2010, Speedo was quick to release the FastSkin III (FSIII), a revolutionary design in line with the reviewed guidelines enforced by FINA. Compromised of a swimming hat, googles and suit, the FSIII is Speedos current racing range.

Our racing suit sizing is based on three measurements:

1. Body Loop - place the beginning of the tape measure on the middle of the shoulder.
2. Chest - Measure over the fullest part of your bust and around your back.
3. Waist - Measure around your navel.

For males, who are now restricted to wearing tech suits that go from waist to above their knee, the cost is between $300 and $400. For women, the cost is even more excessive, with the newest generation of FastSkins LZR Racer costing just under $600.

The LZR Racer, created to combat the forces of drag on the swimmer, held the body in a more hydrodynamic position and used synthetic materials to create a smooth, drag free surface. In order to counter drag, the seams of the LZR Racer suit were ultrasonically welded.

In the beginning of 2010, FINA banned those suits for good. Now, swimsuits have to be made with only textile material, no polyurethane. It is true that, as of today, several of the fastest performances of all time were registered in that period.

The suits in effect pushed water away from the swimmer's body and were therefore dubbed hydrophobic. The drag on the human body moving in water is around 780 times larger than the drag when moving in air, so there is considerable advantage to getting as much of the body above the water level as possible.

Swimwear

Finding your size Unlike clothing, swimwear needs to sit slimly to avoid drag and gaping when in the water. Whilst our sizing runs true to size according to this slim-fit, you can also use our size charts to find the best fit for you.

1,90,39,50,000. This super expensive bikini was designed by Susan Rosen for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2012. Molly Sims showcased this bikini which is an assembly of over 150 carats of D flawless diamonds. All the diamonds were set in Platinum, which made this bikini the most expensive bikini of the world.

The benefits of tech suits are significant. By reducing drag and increasing buoyancy, swimmers can achieve faster times and improve their overall performance.