Olympic swimmers are setting new records partly due to the fact that they are rocking the latest in sports technology. New swimwear that reduce drag have been invented and recently been used in the 2008 Olympics. The suits push in the swimmers chest and behind so that they cut through the water better. Another benefit to the suit that is still being tested is that it helps the swimmer get oxygenated by squeezing them. Between measuring frictional properties of potential fabrics in NASA wind tunnels and modeling the fluid dynamics of jiggling flesh, the manufacturers have definitely created some hydrodynamic suits. Manufacturers such as TYR and Speedo both offer these high tech swimsuits. They come at a price of $200 to $500.
Sources:
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jun/17-the-lycra-swimsuit-thats-worth-its-weight-in-gold/
I can understand a bicycle affecting a cyclists performance, a sneaker affecting a runner’s race but a swim suit affecting a swim? This swim suit restricts the chest and butt, making a person more slender, who’d glide easier. I’m thinking of a dolphin. I also think that the oxygenation factor is true. Take people with diabetes, hypertension or swelling in their legs and feet, they wear TED stockings, which are extremely tight, compression stockings which move the excess fluid. Such circulation definitely oxygenates the blood and tissue. This is pretty interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to recognize the different effects on the sports. It is no longer fair to compare times or scores from today’s athletes to those from years past. The innovations and technologies have left an outstanding impact on their performance. As a swimmer, I have been exposed to these new and different suits. One cannot imagine how truly uncomfortable they really are. It is like squeezing into something that is far too small.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of strange and seems like the suits are not all that safe for the swimmers. Can’t something happen to them if they are being squeezed to tightly in this suit while they are swimming. Also, wouldn’t this kind of be like cheating because what if the other swimmers didn’t have the suits so they were not all being equally judged?
ReplyDelete