The World’s Fastest Swimsuit: Speedo Spotlight Fastskin 2.0’s Record Breaking Technology

Speedo

• Since Fastskin 2.0 was launched in November 2023, 80% of all records broken have been broken wearing Fastskin techology
• A bold new update to the world’s fastest swimsuits, underlining Fastskin’s long-standing reputation as ‘the choice of champions’

(London:July 22, 2024) Speedo is spotlighting its industry leading technology, Speedo Fastskin 2.0. Speedo’s pioneering Fastskin® LZR® Intent and LZR Valor swimsuits have entered a new dimension with the introduction of new editions developed by Speedo’s Aqualab® research and development facility and engineered from Lamoral®️ Space Tech. Utilising Lamoral’s world-leading expertise, the latest suits feature improved hydrophobic qualities, allowing athletes to perform at peak performance on race day. To produce the LZR Intent 2.0 and LZR Valor 2.0 Speedo worked closely with Lamoral ®, whose original coatings were developed for use on satellites.

The collaboration with Lamoral ® has produced a suit with Speedo’s lowest water absorption and the most durable water repellence benefit. The innovative fabric coating is also lightweight and provides a feeling of weightlessness indicative of the company’s space-age origins. The refreshedsuits were developed in Speedo’s global R&D facility, Aqualab, by a team of experts specialising in textile technology garment engineering, sports science, computational fluid dynamics, testing protocols and design. 

The original Fastskin LZR Pure Intent and Fastskin LZR Valor swimsuits were introduced in 2019, and are the trusted choice of champions swimmers including Caeleb Dressel, Emma McKeon and Adam Peaty. Since the launch of Fastskin 2.0 in November 2023, 80% of all records broken were broken by athletes wearing Fastskin technology.

CAELEB DRESSEL UNDERWATER SHOT

By focusing on evolution rather than revolution, the upgraded suits enable athletes to continue enjoying the familiar feel of their current suits as they head into a pivotal year, whilst benefitting from the marginal gains delivered by the upgraded fabric that can make all the difference at the most crucial moments. The new Fastskin LZR Intent 2.0 and Fastskin LZR Valor 2.0 combine innovative new technologies and fabrics applied intelligently to make the perfect suit for every type of competitive swimmer. 

The Fastskin LZR Intent 2.0 uses a smart fusion of three textured fabric zones, along with bonded seams and compressive dual layers in targeted areas to streamline, increase power, and reduce drag. The Fastskin LZR Valor 2.0 now has six times more durable water repellency, with compression that allows freedom of movement with stability and support.

RIGHT: MATT RICHARDS, DUNCAN SCOTT, TATJANA SCHOENMAKER (SA), BENEDETTA PILATO (ITA), TOM DEAN & ADAM PEATY

Simon Breckon, Speedo Senior Vice President, said: “Our new development with Lamoral underpins Aqualab’s mission to push the limits of swimwear design through our innovative approach. This upgrade is driven by science and informed by our expert athletes and club swimmers across the world, retaining all of the properties that make Speedo Fastskin suits the world’s fastest, to ensure that the world’s best just got even better.

“Our mission was to deliver updated suits that build on the successes of the LZR Intent and LZR Valor. Through our partnership with Lamoral and working with their Space Tech, we’ve increased water repellency to deliver a refreshed suit that is truly out of this world.”  

 RIGHT: ELIJAH WINNINGTON, EMMA KCKEON, KAYLEE MCKEOWN, ZAC-STUBBLETY COOK & ARIANE TITMUS

Caeleb Dressel (USA) added: “Speedo – you somehow made the best a little bit better. I feel fast wearing it! When I stand on the blocks, I’m feeling confident that the suit is going to help me. It’s my own little Speedo rocket suit”.

Emma McKeon (AUS) also said: “The Speedo LZR Intent 2.0 is very flexible and is firm in the right spots. I feel like I can really move and it seems like the water is not sticking to the suit, it really glides off. This is the best racing suit in the world, it feels fast and I can’t wait to wear it.”

The new suits mark the latest chapter in the Fastskin story, which began with the original sharkskin-inspired suit in 2000 and has since developed an unrivalled reputation for pioneering swimming technology, whilst dominating the pool for more than two decades.

LEFT – RIGHT: KYLIE MASSE (CAN), RYAN MURPHY, REGAN SMITH, CAELEB DRESSEL, MAGGIE MAC NEIL (CAN) & ABBEY WEITZEIL

The new Fastskin LZR Pure Intent 2.0 and Fastskin LZR Pure Valor 2.0 swimsuits have been approved by World Aquatics and are available for purchase from https://www.speedo.com/uk/en/fastskin.html.

*Team Speedo Athletes L-R: Kaylee McKeon (AUS), Elijah Winnington (AUS), Emma McKeon (AUS), Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS), AriarneTitmus (AUS), Caeleb Dressel (USA), Abbey Weitzeil (USA), Ryan Murphy (USA), Regan Smith (USA), Adam Peaty (GBR), Maggie Mac Neil (CAN), Tom Dean (GBR), Kylie Masse (CAN), Matt Richards (GBR), Tatjana Schoenmaker (SA), Duncan Scott (GBR) & Benedetta Pilato (ITA).

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Notes to Editors:

Inspired by the varying skin texture of a shark, the original Fastskin suit incorporated compression and ridges in key areas as Speedo developed a fabric which mimicked nature and helped swimmers glide through the water. In Sydney later that year, 83% of swimmers who won a medal were wearing the suit. Speedo’s pioneering Fastskin LZR Intent 2.0 and LZR Valor 2.0 swimsuits have been developed by Speedo’s Aqualab research and development facility, in collaboration with Lamoral®️ Space Tech. The new material delivers increased water repellence to improve performance in the water. Lamoral’s original coatings were developed for use in space and Speedo have worked closely with Lamoral’s world-leading team of experts to create a bespoke coating that provides ultimate performance on swimsuits. 

Speedo has worked with world-class athletes during the research, development and testing of the Speedo Fastskin LZR 2.0 including, Adam Peaty (GBR), Tom Dean (GBR), Matt Richards (GBR), Duncan Scott (GBR), Tatjana Schoenmaker (SA), Benedetta Pilato (ITA), Caeleb Dressel (USA), Ryan Murphy (USA), Regan Smith (USA), Abbey Weitzeil (USA), Emma McKeon (AUS), Kaylee McKeown (AUS), Ariarne Titmus (AUS), Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS), Elijah Winnington (AUS), Kylie Masse (CAN), & Maggie Mac Neil (CAN).

About Speedo® 

The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations, and supports swimming from grass-roots through to the elite level. In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefined swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER® – the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created. 2011 saw Speedo unveil another world first with the Fastskin Racing System – a cap, goggle and suit designed to work together as one. Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world. To find out more visit: www.speedo.com