Aquaman's New Suit

With six months left before the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics, swim wear manufacturer Speedo has just unveiled what it says is "the world's fastest swimsuit." As the New York Times reported, the company has begun taking orders for the $550 body suit and is providing a glimpse into what makes its new LZR Racer its most advanced suit yet (see video below). The company's roster of Olympic swimmers - Michael Phelps, Amanda Beard, Dara Torres, and others - were all on hand for the unveiling while donning the new swim skin, which Speedo claims provides ten-percent less drag and five-percent more oxygen efficiency. The LZR Racer suit (pronounced "laser racer") is built from just three pieces of fabric - if you can call any part of the ultra thin, water repellent, compression suit fabric - and in place of speed-constricting seams the three sections were ultrasonically welded together. For Phelps, who won eight Olympic medals in 2004 and shared his workout with Outside (The Big Chill, January) as he prepares to win more in Beijing, the new suit is likely the last thing his competitors want to hear about.

--Jason Kerkmans