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In 2008, Speedo launched the LZR Racer, a high-tech swimwear. Since high-tech swimwear were launched, over 130 world records have been broken.
As a result, FINA, the International Swimming Federation, banned full-body length and high-tech swimwear starting in 2010.
The LZR Racer used a "high-technology swimwear fabric composed of woven elastane-nylon and polyurethane." How do fabrics, impermeability, buoyancy, and swimwear length enhance a swimmer's performance?
Fabrics are used to improve shape retention to reduce vibration, and increase muscle compression to retain muscle shape to reduce fatigue and power loss.
High-tech swimwear transforms a "less than perfect" physique into an ideal physique for swimming. Also, seams in high-tech swimwear are ultrasonically welded rather than stitched, to further promote the streamline effect.
Impermeability reduces friction between water and the fabric, and also reduces drag.
Speedo added polyurethane panels that repelled water. Reducing aerodynamic properties increases a swimmer's speed in the water.
Buoyancy elevates a swimmer higher in the water.
Some swimmers wore two articles of high-tech swimwear to achieve a buoyant effect.
Swimwear length: Full-body length swimwear covers more surface area of the body. This works hand-in-hand with fabrics to achieve the compressive, impermeable, and buoyant benefits of high-tech swimwear.