ABSTRACT
As an example (and continuing from section E5 – Propulsion through a fluid), the new body suit for swimmers has become one of the latest scientific applications in sports equipment design, which is attempting to reduce world
Webb wore a swimsuit that would have weighed around 10 lbs (4.55 kg). In 2004, at the Athens Olympics the Speedo one piece (“Fastskin”) costume weighed only a few ounces (0.09 kg), a saving of over 98% in weight since the original costume of 1875. While wearing these suits, it is speculated that there is an 8% lower drag resistance and they are even better than swimming with no costume on at all. This lower drag resistance is achieved through a series of resin stripes or ridges printed on the fabric, which cause tiny vortices of water to form around the suit allowing the body to cut and glide through the water with minimum friction (rather like the skin of a shark). In swimming 90% of the drag resistance is caused by the shape of the swimmer and only 10% is attributed to the friction caused between the skin, the costume and the water. Hence, not only is the suit of critical importance but also is the swimmer’s anthropometric body shape. As an example the Australian men’s 4 × 200 m freestyle relay team for Athens 2004 had an average height of over 191 cm (over 6 feet 3 inches) and an average weight (mass) of over 83 kg.
