Evolution of Olympic Swimwear Dress Code Rules: Controversies, Bodysuit Bans and the Moment ‘Technology Went Too Far’

Swimming is one of the few sports to be included in the Olympic Games since 1896. Since then, what uniforms the athletes wear in the water has evolved, with new technological developments literally changing the game.

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World Aquatics (formerly known as FINA), the international governing body for swimming, diving and water polo, has altered the types of suits and materials allowed in competition as recently as 2010. Learn more about their dress code guidelines and how Olympic swimwear has changed.

Swimwear at the Olympics Over the Years

Racerback swimwear , created by Speedo founder Alexander MacRae, debuted at the 1928 Olympics. The silhouette, which revealed the shoulders and back, allowed for a better range of motion. At the time, though, its cut was considered controversial — swimmer Clare Dennis was nearly disqualified for showing too much shoulder while competing at the 1932 Games.

In 1936, men eschewed the idea of a full-body suit altogether, going shirtless at the Berlin Games. This remains common today, though in 1996, the “bodysuit revolution” arrived. Some athletes at the Atlanta Games sported neck-to-knee suits and by the 2000 Olympics, swimmers started wearing full-body designs. At the time, some challenged World Aquatics’ decision to allow the new suits.

Speedo’s LZR Racer

Swimwear manufacturer Speedo introduced the LZR Racer in 2008. NASA helped engineer the full-body suit, which decreased drag by 24 percent. Researchers tested fabrics using a wind tunnel and a water flume.

Polyurethane made up 50 percent of the LZR Racer, increasing swimmers’ buoyancy and speed. At the Beijing Olympics, 23 world records were set by athletes wearing the new design.

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Today, the Olympics say that the 2008 Games marked “a moment when technology went too far.”

Polyurethane and Neoprene Bans

According to World Aquatics, polyurethane and Neoprene suits give larger athletes greater advantages, which is why in 2009, the organization banned the use of those materials at competitions including the Olympics. The ban officially went into effect in 2010, mandating that swimwear be made solely from textiles.

Suit Guidelines

For both men and women, swimsuits cannot cover the neck or go past the shoulders and ankles. Men’s suits cannot extend above the navel or below the knees, while women’s suits can extend from shoulder to knee.

There are various lengths of suits available for aquatic athletes — some men opt for briefs rather than the longer jammers, while women often alternate between traditional one-piece silhouettes and those that extend down the thigh. It also seems to depend on which sport athletes compete in: most men in freestyle races wear jammers, while water polo players and divers tend to prefer briefs, for example.

Additionally, World Aquatics must inspect and approve each suit prior to competition. Swimwear also has to fall within the organization’s thickness and buoyancy regulations.

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