As of Wednesday Speedo Fastskin LZR Racer had captured 42 or 48 swimming medals at the Beijing Olympics and since the LZR was unveiled in February, over 60 world records have been broken. According to the Globe and Mail "...Speedo enlisted the help of NASA scientists to sculpt the company's Pulse material into a shark-like second skin that reduces the drag on a human body in the water by as much as 10 per cent. Speedo created 3-D scans of more than 400 of the world's top swimmers in an effort to determine the shape of their bodies and how best to improve their aquatic movements." Loren Chiu, an associate professor of biomechanics at the University of Alberta says “They looked at fish and sharks and tried to recreate a surface that is similar to what they would have on their skin,” he said. “It's similar to the non-stick frying pans you use to cook your eggs. If you have a smooth surface, then instead of water sticking to the suit, which would cause friction, it slides along it. With less friction, the athlete then is able to move faster.” The LZR is expected to be made available to the general public this fall at a cost of about $550.00 (US).
