Speedo Press Release: The Speedo LZR Elite is now available!

The new Speedo LZR Elite hits the pool swimming. Here is a press release. I put the prices in bold and note they also include all the athletes they sponsor. I didn't know that Speedo signed Park Tae Hwan:

LOS ANGELES (December 3, 2009) – SPEEDO®, the world’s leading swimwear brand, has launched the Speedo LZR Racer Elite – its new evolution of performance swimwear inspired by the record-breaking Speedo LZR Racer suit. A new generation of advanced textile swimsuit, the LZR Racer Elite offers a distinctive combination of cutting-edge fabric, design and construction for a smoother shape, reduced drag and optimal flexibility; all within FINA’s new rules for 2010 and compliant with rules governing collegiate, high school and club swimming in the United States. The LZR Racer Elite will make its U.S. debut at the 2009 USA Swimming Short Course Nationals in Federal Way, Wash. (Dec. 3-5).

“Speedo has supported me throughout my career and has always provided me with the best technology,” said Michael Phelps, Speedo-sponsored swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time. “I’m excited about the launch of Speedo’s new generation suits under the FINA 2010 rules and look forward to competing in the new Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit at the upcoming Duel in the Pool meet and beyond.”

Developed in the Speedo Aqualab and utilizing the technology developed for the Speedo LZR Racer suit, the Speedo LZR Racer Elite incorporates the same fully bonded construction with ultrasonically welded seams for the ultimate smooth, flexible and streamlined surface. Made from exclusive ultra-lightweight, low drag LZR Pulse® fabric, the suit is engineered to fit the swimmer’s body for a streamlined shape while reducing muscle oscillation, enabling them to cut through the water more efficiently. Also featuring Speedo’s unique 3D, three-piece dynamically engineered pattern for optimum fit and shape, the Speedo LZR Racer Elite is Speedo’s most advanced performance racing suit.

“For over 80 years, Speedo has consistently pioneered swimsuit innovations,” said Paula Schneider, President of Speedo USA. “The LZR Racer Elite is the newest generation of Speedo’s high performance swimwear and is designed, under the new FINA rules, to continue to help the athlete perform at his / her best. As we move forward in to 2010 and look ahead into 2012, Speedo’s commitment to the sport of swimming continues at every level, from grassroots to elite.”

The new Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit is available in the male Jammer silhouette and female Recordbreaker Kneeskin and Recordbreaker silhouettes. Beginning this December, the LZR Elite will retail at www.speedousa.com and through Speedo Team Dealers for $270 - $375, depending on the silhouette.

Within this new generation Speedo LZR Racer range, the brand is also set to debut the new Speedo LZR Racer Pro suit in Spring 2010. Featuring a high durability variant of the LZR Pulse fabric and the same 3D pattern as the LZR Racer Elite series, the LZR Racer Pro will round out Speedo’s most comprehensive, technically advanced range of textile race suits, all compliant to FINA 2010 regulations.

Team Speedo swimmers include Olympic Medalists Michael Phelps (USA), Natalie Coughlin (USA), Ryan Lochte (USA), Katie Hoff (USA), Libby Trickett (AUS), Eamon Sullivan (AUS), Park Tae Hwan (KOR) and Rebecca Adlington (GBR).

SPEEDO® is a registered trademark of and used under license from Speedo International Ltd. Warnaco Swimwear, Inc., a division of The Warnaco Group, Inc. (NYSE: WRC), is the authorized licensee of the SPEEDO® trademark in North American and the Caribbean.

My take: It's undeniable, the womens suit is a tech-suit without a zipper.

'Speedo' presents: "The Golden Jammer!"

Kastaway blog with a huge scoop that took my breath away. Rob of RobAquatics sent it to me in an IM and I was completely floored. I was going to copy/paste the the conversation but I dropped to many "f-bombs" [expletives] trying to understand how Speedo; (and it is Speedo who set this price), can actually say with a straight face that their new LZR jammer will sell for $260!

From Kastaway:

The LZR Racer Elite Jammer will retail for $260.00, which is more than the FS-Pro Jammer ($180.00) but less than the original offering of the now-illegal LZR Racer Jammer ($290.00).

[Link]

Response from Rob of RobAquatics: "...If I'm a parent, I'm more pissed about a $260 jammer than I am a $300 B70..."

I think USA Swimming's argument that suits are too expensive for kids and their families just circled the toilet.

Is this not madness? No, this is Speeeeedo!"

FIINA moves one year forward but swimsuits move one decade back!

Above are screen shots from TYR, Speedo and the Nike websites. Welcome to 2010, these are our swimsuit selections!

Looks like Nike is back in the swimsuit business! I guess Nike smelled blood in the water and has posted this revamped Nike Swim site in response to Speedo's epic FAIL at 2009 Worlds:

Nike Swim [Link]

I suspect Nike has a shot at becoming the number one suit brand since Speedo has apparently loss it's "street-cred" after Jaked and Arena knocked it off it's pedestal!

It took Speedo 40-years to place their brand on that pedestal too.

USA Today Article: Dara hurt Speedo's feelings! - Schubert wants asteriks! - Swimming keeps growing!

Dara Torres grew up in a 22-room mansion; like she needs Speedo's money. Trust me, whatever suit she wears, that is the one she believes in. Dara wants to win:

"... At the U.S. championships, Torres strained her relationship with sponsor Speedo by donning a Jaked for the 50 free final, which she won. Speedo's senior vice president of marketing, Craig Brommers, would not comment on the ramifications of Torres' decision, citing contractual privacy.

[Didn't they say it was okay? --Tony]

"It's just a very uncomfortable situation," says Torres, who was undecided on what she will wear for worlds when the team left for a training camp in Italy. "I just needed to try a different suit to see what everyone was wearing and how I felt in it." ..."

But then there is Schubert evangelizing his new position about speedsuits:

U.S. national team coach Mark Schubert calls world records set since the start of 2008, when Speedo introduced its LZR, "artificially aided." He would like them to include an asterisk or be kept on a separate list, then erased when they are broken by someone not wearing a controversial suit.

[Link]

Logically, how does a person like Schubert who hard sold athletes to wear a LZR or face losing out on a gold medal in Beijing suddenly find "religion" and state with a straight face or without frothing at the mouth that speedsuits are "...forces of evil in a Bozo nightmare?" -- (Beck from the song: Loser)

Brisbane Times: "Several swimsuits have reportedly failed FINA's first round of testing..."

From the Brisbane Times: "Several swimsuits have reportedly failed FINA's first round of testing and Australian butterflyer Andrew Lauterstein couldn't be happier....

I'm a proud Speedo athlete who loves their suits, but I want to be able to stand up behind the blocks and know the guy next to me doesn't have an advantage and the best swimmer on the day will win. ..."

[Link]

Andrew, you need to measure your words: You just said your Speedo can't compete with rivals and you also said you endorse Speedo.

Bousquet gracious in victory speaks about the strategy he used be defeat Michael Phelps in the 100-meter free!

Michael Phelps is quoted as well and not only does Bousquet talk about his admiration for Phelps, he discuses his point of view about the Jaked possibly being banned tomorrow by FINA. From APF:

"...I don't like swimming 100s in season," Bousquet said. "The fact he was in the race and in the lane next to me helped me get my head into it and get motivated.

"I would like to get him down to the 50. I don't want to stay around too long in the 100. With the years coming, I don't think I will beat him too many more times in the 100."

Bousquet cited Phelps's stroke switches as a reason to feel he will not long be able to beat the American.

"To go 49.0 and change strokes a couple of times during the race, that's very impressive," Bousquet said. ..."

[Link]

As for our suits: My prediction for tomorrow is bleak. I suspect the Jaked and the blueseventy will be banned. TYR may be bloodied too.

Possible scenarios: TYR will be extraordinarily upset if the Tracer Rise and/or the Titan are banned. If they are, I am sure TYR will be quite polite and gracious in public; (because they are a classy company), but privately they will escalate the lawsuit against USA Swimming and Speedo and insist upon keeping their trial date with no intention of settling out of court.

The trial date is slated to start in the Spring of 2010 which will be lousy timing for Speedo and USA Swimming since it could bleed into 2012. (the Microsoft anti-trust trial took 2-years.)

I suspect other suit companies if unable to design a winning suit or forced to use a Speedo patent will jump on board that TYR lawsuit making it a class action suit.

Does FINA, USA Swimming, or Australian Swimming want that?

So, does FINA go partisan, "old school suits only" or "split the baby."

Your guess is more educated and better than mine!

Speedsuits: An informal FINA speedsuit meeting just happened!

I was thrilled to get a call from Lausanne, Switzerland just an hour ago from a individual who just attended the FINA swimsuit manufacturers meeting. This is a pre-meeting the manufacturers decided to have so as to be on the same page before meeting with the FINA officials tomorrow. A final announcement about the fate of speedsuits will be rendered in Dubai next month.

Here is are some snippets from a TVNZ article about the meeting that will take place tomorrow:

The manufacturers have never had it so good and they will not want any bans imposed.

Strong, persuasive argument is expected from all sides and FINA will need to be tough and unrelenting in its pursuit of the right answer. About 20 manufacturers will be present in Lausanne along with a number of coaches, athlete representatives and the FINA technical committee.

FINA will announce its decisions at a meeting in Dubai early next month so that the new laws will be introduced before the world championships in Rome in August. It would be a huge surprise if a ban on multiple suits is not imposed, along with strict guidelines on the area of the body which can be covered, but whether FINA is prepared to go much further than that is the major question.

[Link]

I was told that all the suit manufacturers are on the same page in that they want a de facto buoyancy test, suit thickness guidelines, a rule to ban multiple suits and/or duct tape "mods" and most importantly clear cut rules so that suit innovation can take place without the fear of a nebulous interpretation wiping out bundles of money in R&D expenses at the last minute.

I was surprised to hear that they are all getting along and that each company is going to make it clear that they will support FINA and will promote swim meets and open water events in the future.

Apparently Speedo is being the most vocal of the bunch and Jason Rance, the "mad scientist" who runs Speedo R&D, was interviewed by The Telegraph and made himself heard:

But Jason Rance, who headed the Speedo research and development team that produced the all-conquering suit with the aid of NASA scientists, has denied that it offers any extra buoyancy and is willing to prove it in a laboratory.

"What I can be clear on is that Speedo has always tested for buoyancy because we don't believe it's fair to have a suit that basically allows you to float on the water," he said.

"We would welcome an independent buoyancy test to make sure that our suit is not buoyant because I think that is something that people have jumped on."

[Link]

I asked about the TYR people and the blueseventy people since I really don't care about the Speedo people and they repeated that confidence is very high, each manufacturer wants swimming to do very well and all they just want are clear rules so they can support their swimmers and FINA swim events in the future.

I want to thank the person who called me, it was quite thrilling to get a call from the other side of the Atlantic especially about a subject I am very invested in.

I wrote 'TYR' a letter and asked how they were doing?

When Nike exited the swimsuit market I made a personal decision to avoid Speedo. I was afraid that Speedo's "marriage" with USA Swimming would drive other suit makers out of the market. I have even blogged about these feelings; hence, I wrote TYR a letter asking how they were doing and though I am not allowed to publish verbatim the contents of the letter, I do have permission to tell you that the TYR R&D techs are back in the lab trying to build even better suits for 2012.

How is this for a scary headline: "Germans smell Olympic disaster because of new Speedo swimsuits"

From The Canadian Press: "... The German swim federation has to seriously consider it, otherwise we will sink completely into mediocrity," Thomas Rupprath, one of Germany's top swimmers, said Saturday.

Rupprath lost his 50-metre backstroke world record two weeks ago to Liam Tancock, who swam in a Speedo. If you listen to U.S. head coach Mark Schubert, an outspoken supporter, that just shows every record could fall at the Beijing Games due to the suit. ..."

Britta Stefen countered: "...I swim in Adidas and set my world record in the 100-metre freestyle in it two years ago," said Britta Steffen said. "With all this discussion, people shouldn't forget the suit doesn't swim alone. Inside is a person that has a good or bad day, and trained well or badly." [Link]Here is my suggestion to the German team, Ask Speedo for a handful of LZRs, TYR for some Tracer Lights, and even Nike for some Hydras. Race three events with each suit in an inter-squad scrimmage. Compare times and then make a sound decision as to what path you will take.

I suspect the suit that fits that particular person the best will produce the faster times for that unique individual.

News release from NASA regarding the new Speedo speedsuit

From the release: "... HAMPTON, Va. - When a swimsuit manufacturer wanted to create a better fabric for competitive swimmers, it sought out some unlikely experts -- aerospace engineers at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton.

"... That fact led Warnaco Inc. of New York, the U.S. licensee of the Speedo swimwear brand, to seek use of a NASA wind tunnel at Langley to test swimsuit fabrics that may be used by athletes in international competitions.

"We evaluated the surface roughness effects of nearly 60 fabrics or patterns in our small low-speed tunnel, which is perfect for this purpose," Wilkinson said. "We were assessing which fabrics and weaves had the lowest drag. ..."

The materials tested come in the form of tubes. Wilkinson stretches the tubes over a smooth, flat aluminum plate and then secures the edges with smooth metal rails and tape to form a precise rectangular model shape. Wilkinson runs the material through a number of wind speeds and, with the help of sensors, measures drag on the surface. Under a reimbursable agreement, NASA turns the wind tunnel data over to Speedo for their use. ..."

"... It turns out to simulate a swimmer in the water at about two meters per second, we need to run the wind tunnel at about 28 meters per second, which is well within its capability," Wilkinson added. "The tests generally have shown the smoother the fabric, the lower the drag."

It's not there yet but "... video of Speedo fabric testing will be available on the NASA Television Video File. For downlink and scheduling information and links to streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Nasa New release [Link]

New Speedo speedsuit makes elite swimmers look like fat and dumpy actors in a bad sci-fi TV show!

This is two hours old delivered to us by the Daily Telegraph. The suit may be fast, faster, or fastest, but look at the above swimmers! Here we have some of the best swimmers evolution has ever produced and this new Speedo makes them look like background extras in a bad sci-fi TV show.

That is Leisel Jones on the right who is both strong and beautiful but look how dumpy it makes her look in the slide show at the Daily Telegraph site: [Link]

UPDATE 1: Phelps looks silly too! Swimming World has an article and several links about the new Speedo: [Link]

UPDATE 2 :Speedo made this claim to the Sydney Morning Herald: "... The company claims swimmers are up to 5 per cent more efficient in their oxygen intake and says the suit has 5 per cent less drag than the previous model. But Speedo, which originated in Australia, is now owned by British firm Pentland Brands and distributed throughout the world, meaning Australia no longer has exclusive access to any of the company's technological breakthroughs. ..." [Link]

My Take: That is an extraordinary claim and it demands extraordinary proof. I don't buy it and I don't appreciate papers making this claim for Speedo without including the evidence to see if it can be reproduced. Same goes for any speed suit manufacturer

UPDATE 3 USA Today raises the bar of 5% less drag made by the Sydney Morning Herald to a whopping "10% less passive drag" then the previous Speedo made in 2004. If this is the case let's see if Michael Phelps posts faster times; i.e. world records at the Missouri Grand Prix meet this weekend. [Link]

Peter Travis, 80 - Invented the Speedo in 1961

Peter Travis, Order of Australia Member, and a snappy dresser told this to the The Sydney Morning Herald: "... A Manly boy, Peter Travis was working for Speedo Holdings in 1960 when his boss asked him to re-create the overseas fashion of shorts in Hawaiian motif. "My reply was: 'The whole world will have that. I will start with a costume you will swim in,"' Travis, 80, says. ..." [Link]

That is the best way to design; function first, then form! Today's technology becomes tomorrows art.

Speedo has a Podcast page

If you have iTunes; (it's free), you can listen to dozens of interviews and profiles of the Speedo stable of swimmers. Most of the interviews are personality profiles but they do include some insights on how the athletes train. On Page 15 of the Podcast page there is an interview between Olympian Scott Goldblatt and founder of the website Timed Finals and Natalie Coughlin regarding her training, Pan Pacs performance and life after swimming. [Link]

"Amanda Beard Jumps the shark!" - Will pose for Playboy

The term, jump the shark is a metaphor that was originally coined after the character Fonzie, in the TV show Happy Days, jumped over a shark while water-skiing in a fresh water lake. When a TV show does something this ridiculous, it usually denotes that the show has lost it's way creatively and has now become a waste of time to view. The metaphor works for other endeavors as well.

And speak of the devil, here comes one of those endeavors now: Amanda Beard is going to pose in Playboy magazine and I doubt she is doing it for art's sake but rather for George Washington's sake.

With Nationals just a year or so away, it appears to my cynical eye that she is leveraging as many financial opportunities as she possibly can in the short term for if she can't make the US Olympic team in 2008, or fails to medal if she does, she will have a lot less equity with Speedo or whoever else she is signed with. Hence, "jump the shark", make the quick buck, and exit with a bang seems to me to be the motive.

I think this behavior; (putting sensational publicity and financial obligations in front of one's training), indicates that she may not make the Olympic team. However, if she does make it, the United States will have a Playboy Bunny representing us in the breaststroke. How apropos! [Link]

Gary Hall Jr. back with Speedo and will donate a portion of his bonuses to juvenile diabetes research

From Lane 9 news over at Swim World:

In an effort to continue his fight against diabetes, an illness Hall was diagnosed with in 1999, Speedo will donate an additional 10 percent of all Speedo performance bonuses earned by Hall to the Gary Hall Jr., Foundation for Diabetes. [Link]

To me this illustrates character, responsibility and empathy. Here is a press release form the International Sports Movement:

LOS ANGELES April 17, 2007) - SPEEDO®, the top-selling swimwear brand in the world, today announced the signing of 32-year-old swim star and Olympic veteran Gary Hall, Jr. to a multi-year contract through 2010. A ten-time Olympic medalist, Hall represented the U.S. in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and is projected to be a serious medal contender at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in his specialty, the 50m freestyle. If he wins gold in Beijing, Hall would become the first-ever Olympian to do so in the same event three times. [Link]

Here are all of Michael Phelps' 2007 Fina World Championship of Swimming gold medal races

Speedo and WCSN have collected all of Phelps' gold medal swims onto one page at Speedo.com. The only downside is that they are not Quicktime files but rather Windows media slop: [Link]

Ian Crocker has a website

The Gallery is my favorite part of his site since it features ads he has done for his sponsor, Speedo. In my opinion Speedo has become the Nike of Swim related print ads. They make swimming look as fun as it really is.

Here is a link to Ian Crocker's gallery page. Scroll down to the link that says ads. [link]

There is a new Speedo in town and half the Australians racing this March will be wearing it. Introducing the Fastskin FS Pro

Of course Timed Finals beat me by 8 hours with this news and they even have a photo of it before anybody else; that is why I have a news feed to them in the right-hand-navigation of this blog. Click to read about it here: Link

The Fastskin FS-Pro, launched last night, weighs less than half the previous Fastskin II but is 15 per cent stronger to provide greater muscle compression.

The comments posted at Timed Finals are almost better than the article itself.

Amanda Weir signs with my favorite swim company, TYR

I wear mostly TYR suits and equipment. I do have Speedo Fastskin II leggings which I am impressed with and raced in during Masters SCM Championships but I am more impressed with the quality of TYR products over Speedo. Consequently when you see me training you will see that most of my swim gear is TYR related. I am not paid or provided any material goods to make this statement. This is a blog not a "flog". (A flog is a phony blog set up for the sole purpose of covertly endorsing products or to create false buzz about a product or service.) I endorse TYR.

Weir's signing quote with TYR went as followed: "It didn't take me long to know TYR was the right fit for me," Weir said. "Their technology, fashion, and family atmosphere made my decision clear. With TYR's support, I will be able to achieve my swimming goals for the 2008 Olympic Games. I look forward to contributing to the innovation of the next great Olympic technology. I am thrilled!" [link]

Well, at Nationals last year, Amanda Weir, was wearing Speedo Fasatskin II gear and that is what she paid $400 bucks to win her races in. (See inset photo.) Has she seen the light regarding TYR's products or did George Washington give her a couple of hundred thousand reason to change her mind? Hopefully, like me, she now feels that Tyr is a better product but more likely, Jesse M. Unruh, said it best: "Everyman has a price and can be bought. For some it's wine, women, or money but in those rare individuals that can't be bought; they can be leased."