Women's 1988 Australian Olympic swimsuit
Maker
Speedo International Ltd
Designer
Gloria Smythe
Date1988
Object number00019046
NameSwimsuit
MediumNylon, elastane (spandex or Lycra), cotton
DimensionsOverall: 500 x 285 mm, 0.07 kg
Clothing size: 8
Clothing size: 8
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Speedo International Ltd
DescriptionThis 'platypus' print swimsuit was based on the design created by Gloria Smythe (Mortimer-Dunn) for the Australian women's Olympic swimming team in 1988. The suit has a cross over back, with a green gauze gusset and green seams. The chest has a gold 'v' shaped collar, with a central Australian Olympic shield.
The fabric features an all over print of yellow stylised platypus on a dark green background, with the text 'Australia' in white. This print was chosen instead of the original design of water creatures inspired by Aboriginal rock carvings. The background of the Mabo native title land rights case in 1988 led the committee to decide that the inclusion of Indigenous motifs would be too controversial.HistoryIn 1955 Speedo introduced nylon into its competitive swimwear designs, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne saw the widespread use of the new fabric. The Australian swimming team first wore the Prestige Nylon Tricot fabric at the Rome Olympic Games in 1960. 1976 was the first year in which lycra was introduced as part of a blend with Nylon. This allowed a two-way stretch that gave swimmers greater freedom of movement.
From 1957 the half skirt was replaced with the quarter skirt, and the introduction of the panel at the front gave more shape to the body and a better fit. By 1972 the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) allowed women to swim skirtless, though it was not until the 1976 Montreal Games that the Australian team design followed this trend.
SignificanceProduced as a stock item, this swimsuit demonstrates the influence of Olympic team designs on Speedo's commercial swimwear ranges.