(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-03 09:12

The number of world records shattered at the European championships and Australian Olympic trials last month may make even the world's best swimmers shake in their swimming suits.

Left: Alain Bernard of France, who wears Speedo's new LZR Racer bodysuit broke three world records during the European Swimming Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, last month. Right: China's Olympic medal hopeful Wu Peng poses with his new Nike suit after setting a national record in the men's 200m butterfly during the National Swimming Championships in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on Monday. [China Daily/Agencies]

But the Chinese team is not worried and says it has no interest in trying out Speedo's new LZR Racer full-length bodysuits, which some say are responsible for the astonishing records.

With only four months until the Beijing Olympics, 12 out of 13 swimming world records have been set since February 16. Frenchman Alain Bernard broke three world records (the 100m freestyle twice and the 50m once) at the European Championships in only three days, while Australian sprinters set another eight records in their Olympic trials in eight days. All of the swimmers wore LZR Racers.

But Wu Peng, China's top medal hopeful for the Beijing Games, doesn't believe the bodysuit is responsible for the record-breaking performances.

"A swimsuit doesn't generate champions," Wu told Sina.com at the national Olympic trials. "It's your training level and experience that decide your result at the Olympics. A swimsuit is not enough to help you achieve the feat.

"What happened in Australia has no effect on me. I just focus on my training and will try to reach my goals in August."

Even if China's swimmers wanted to wear the new Speedo suits, the team's contract with Nike, which it signed in 2005, makes it impossible. But head coach Zhang Yadong thinks it is a nonissue.

"As far as I know, there are no scientific results that prove the swimsuit is really able to improve an athlete's performance," he said. "I think most professional swimmers don't like to change suits frequently, especially just months before the Olympics.

"Even without the so-called 'magical' new suit, Australia and European countries are swimming powerhouses. Their athletes have been with Speedo for years and they are already used to its products. I think that's why there are so many world records broken in the LZR Racer."

Zhou Yafei, the Asian record holder of the women's 100m butterfly, echoed Zhang in saying an athlete's suit should depend on his or her personal preference.

"From the very beginning, I didn't like them (the Speedo suits)," she said. "I have tried their previous products and I think it is too tight and I cannot stretch my arms or even walk in it.

"For athletes, it is more of a habit thing. Some athletes love Speedo but some choose Arena or Nike. You just cannot keep switching from one to the other."

Unfair advantage

The swimmers' stunning performances raised concern at swimming world governing body FINA, which is worried the $550 bodysuit gives an unfair advantage to countries sponsored by Speedo, since the suit is not universally available.

There is, in fact, no guarantee Australian swimmers will be allowed to wear the new Speedo suits. Top swimming officials will hold talks with the manufacturer this month for further investigation into its technology.

Cornel Marculescu, executive director of Lausanne-based FINA, said there are two main issues of concern - the thickness of the suit and its availability.

"We have to review this, but there is no scientific test to say if a suit supports performance," he told Swimnews.com.

"The number one priority is that all suits are made available to everyone at the moment of launch. Any innovation should be available to everybody."

Bodysuits have stirred controversy since their introduction into swimming 10 years ago.

After FINA gave the green light in 2000, top manufactures poured money into bodysuit development. But the debate over whether they break rules against buoyancy still rages.

The Speedo suit is notable for its body-stabilizing supports and its ability to reduce drag.

Other manufacturers offer suits with special properties of their own and they too have had their successes, including victories at these recent competitions.

Arena, with world and Olympic champion Laure Manaudou, launched its R-Evolution suit in Eindhoven, and Adidas, the brand once worn by Ian Thorpe, will unveil its new suit shortly.