Speedo Fastskin FSII Bodyskin worn by Petria Thomas
Maker
Speedo International Ltd
Date2004
Object number00039498
NameSwimsuit
MediumPolyester, elastane
DimensionsOverall: 1190 x 360 mm, 0.22 kg
Clothing size: 27
Clothing size: 27
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Petria Thomas
DescriptionThis Speedo Fastskin FSII team suit features panels of navy, green and yellow polyester elastane fabric with dense green flatlocked seams. The Bodyskin's design has zippers that run up the centre of the back and along the legs.
The suit incorporates gripper panels on the underside of the forearms and silicone vortex riblets on the chest, shoulders and back of the suit. The fabric has been textured in a way that mimics the dnticular pattern of a shark.
Printed in white on the right chest is Speedo's logo and the Southern Cross next to 'AUS'. On the left chest is the Australian coat of arms, together with the Olympic rings above the text 'Sydney 2004'.
HistoryThe Speedo Fastskin was launched in 2000 at Homebush Bay in Sydney. The design was developed by a core research team of scientists, swimmers, a swimming coach, a computer clothing company, a Japanese textile company, a bio mechanist and a shark expert. They found that the unique texture of a shark's skin allows it to move faster through the water.
The Fastskin fabric mimics the rough dermal denticles of shark skin to reduce drag in key areas of the body. The polyester and elastane fabric compresses the body to stop skin vibration and muscle oscillation, with the effect of saving energy and further reducing drag.
The suit aids in connecting muscles through a combination of panels and unique seaming. It follows an anatomic pattern where the seams act like tendons and provide tension in the suit, while the fabric panels act like muscles, stretching and returning to their original shape.
The Fastskin FSII was launched in 2004 for the Athens Olympics. The new range featured male and female specific, and stroke specific swimsuits. The FSII fabric contains a special material made from a titanium alloy, which is knitted into the costume, with a silicon crystalloid knitted into the chest and back. Seams have been engineered to follow the flow of the water, with greater stretch to allow freedom of movement.
Seams are an essential element in minimising drag and optimising performance. As seams play a vital role in allowing fabric to be stretched to maximum tension, which gives complete freedom of movement, the number of stitches is very high.
SignificanceThis Australian made suit was worn by Olympian Petria Thomas at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. It is an important example of the technological developments in competitive swimwear made by Speedo during the 1990s.
