Speedo Fastkin Legskin worn by Craig Stevens
Datec 2003
Object number00040500
NameSwimsuit
MediumPolyester, elastine
DimensionsOverall: 770 x 260 mm
Clothing size: 28
Clothing size: 28
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Craig Stevens
DescriptionThese Speedo Fastskin Legskins were worn by champion swimmer Craig Stevens at the 2003 Barcelona World Championships. Made in Australia, the navy, yellow and green polyester elastane fabric has dense green and navy flatlocked seams. The Fastskin fabric has been textured to form a denticular pattern similar to that of a shark.
The Legskins are decorated in white with Speedo's logo, the Southern Cross, the text 'AUS', the Telstra logo, and the text '2003 World Championships Barcelona'.
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, who 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 in both the Faskskin and the Fastskin FSII is very high.
SignificanceThe Australian made Legskins were worn by Olympian Craig Stevens at the 2003 World Championships held in Barcelona. It is an important example of the technological developments in competitive swimwear made by Speedo in the 2000.
