I have been timing at the Stanford Grand Prix this weekend and noticed the large number of elite swimmers wearing the new Speedo LZR Racer. Natalie Coughlin doesn't like to swim the 200 IM and has not competed in the 200 IM in three years. With the LZR and swimming in lane 1, she came within one second of Katie Hoff's US record. Alain Bernard's 50m world record of 21.50sec was the 11th world record to be set between February 16 and March 23, all with the LZR suit.
The LZR RACER can be pre-ordered from Speedo, but will not be available for delivery on or about July 30, 2008 for us ordinary swimmers. The high neck body skin cost is $550. However, I bet that someone will be racing with the LZR at the USMS SC National Championships. Is there anyone out reading this that plans to use the LZR in Austin next month? If so, how did you get one?
Check out the following YouTube videos:
www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch
Barry,
There's been a lot of discussion on these forums about this suit. See these threads:
2/16/08:
"LZR"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
3/1/08:
"the science of LZR'ing"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
3/24/08:
"Should we "ban" the LZR Racer from Nationals?"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
3/27/08:
"LZR suit"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
3/28/08:
"EAMON Sullivan breaks 50 LCM FREE WR again in 21.28"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
3/29/08:
"LZR - It's Faster, but by how much?"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
3/31/08:
"Why so many WRs?"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
4/6/08:
"Speedo LZR using banned materials and methods?"
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Thanks for the links Jayhawk. FINA just posted the following press release:
PR18 - FINA PRESS RELEASE on ARENA Open Letter to FINA on swimsuits
All swimsuit manufacturers are very important partners to FINA, Member Federations, swimmers, coaches and officials, substantially contributing to the growth of our Sport.
Consequently, FINA, in partnership with the manufacturers, implemented the following:
1. Regulations on swimwear approval have been formulated in close co-operation with the manufacturers, whose participation and contribution was essential (available on FINA website www.fina.org);
2. The FINA swimwear approval process has been implemented since 21 November 2005 without any subsequent specific remarks made by the manufacturers on the process;
3. FINA is always willing to examine issues in connection with the swimsuit approval. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no objective scientific evidence on the alleged buoyancy advantage provided by ‘SPEEDO LZR Racer’, ‘TYR Tracer Light’ or any other swimsuit approved by FINA;
4. On 12 February 2008 (i.e. before any discussion on swimsuit arose), FINA invited all the swimwear manufacturers to participate on a meeting on 12 April 2008 in Manchester (GBR) on the occasion of the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). The stated purpose of this meeting is to review and update, if considered necessary, the procedure and requirements for swimwear approval;
5. We underline that at FINA competitions, the rule GR 5.6 - “the manufacturers must ensure that the approved new swimsuit will be available for all competitors” - will apply.
Does anyone know if the new triathlon speedsuits like the Blueseventy PointZero3/3+ will be allowed at Nats? I've read that FINA has approved many of these suits and they are/have been available to the public for some time now (unlike the new LZR). Just curious.
Suits that are approved by FINA for competition are allowed in our meets. So, yes, the Blue Seventy pointzero3 and the Xterra suits would be allowed.
Does the FINA availability clause come into that decision at all?
FINA has not declared the suit unavailable. It is currently in use at the FINA Masters World Championships.
Has FINA declared the LZR unavailable? Someone reported that it too was in use at Worlds, but Speedo is very clear that it is not available beyond a limited group of athletes.
FINA allowed the LZR suit to be worn at the Masters World Championships.
I wish someone could explain why. On the face of it it seems a suit is available if FINA declares it is available regardless of whether the manufacturer will actually make it available. I just don't understand.
