BERLIN (AP)—The LZR Racer has triggered a wave of world records in the pool. Now German swimmers say they could be clad in an even better high-tech suit at the Beijing Olympics.
Adidas has been developing a new suit after complaints in Germany that the country was headed to an Olympic fiasco against the Speedo suit.
“This gives us courage,” said Helge Meeuw, silver medalist from the Athens Olympics men’s 4x100 meter relay team. “This product is on the same level and may be even better.”
During the first two months after the LZR Racer’s introduction, 22 world records were set. Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima swam the latest record in the suit on Sunday, finishing in 2 minutes, 7.51 seconds in the men’s 200 meter breaststroke at the Japan Open.
Five prototypes for the new Adidas suit were tested in Monte Carlo over the weekend. The final product will be ready at the end of June.
“We have no worries any more—the weekend really was positive,” Stefan Herbst, the 200 freestyler and team spokesman, said Sunday. “It’s looking very, very good.”
German swimmers wanted the right in April to switch to Speedo at the Aug. 8-24 games as record after record tumbled with the LZR Racer. The federation, however, has a four-year contract with Adidas.
Many swimmers—some contractually bound to other sportswear companies— argue that the Speedo is unfair and gives athletes added buoyancy in the pool. World governing swimming body FINA says no scientific evidence supports the claims and has refused to ban the LZR Racer.
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