Bodysuit Creates Controversy
Sydney, Australia – Speedo's Fastskin full-body swim suit, meant to mimic shark skin and billed as improving human swim performance by 3%., is making huge waves. Australian Michael Klim wore the suit for the first time in competition Sunday and set a new Commonwealth record in the 100 meter freestyle (48.72). But that kind of performance, said some Olympic officials, could turn out to draw legal challengers from swimmers who can't get their hands on the suit. That's the worry of Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, who has openly questioned its legality. Coates warned that anybody wearing the suit to win Olympic medals might, eventually, see those medals taken away after legal challenges. Speedo, longtime sponsor of the Australian swim team, said it has already cleared the suit with FINA, swimming's international governing body.