Sharks are able to move very fast and it is their skin that helps them swim efficiently by having dermal denticles -triangular projections that point backwards and decrease drag and turbulence by making water spiral off the shark’s body.
Now comes news that World swimming governing body FINA has acted by placing restrictions on the design of the controversial hi-tech swimsuits that have prompted a spate of world records in the last year.
The American and Australian federations have called for an immediate ban on the practice of wearing multiple suits, and Rance agrees that urgent action is required. “I think wearing multiple suits is patently ridiculous,” he said. “The only reason you would do that is if you felt that by trapping air between the suits it is going to increase your buoyancy.”
The unease over the Speedo LZR Racer suit felt by many swimming coaches prior to the Beijing Olympics, flared into outright revolt when Fifteen of the 17 top European nations, including Great Britain, signed a protest which is to be presented to world governing body Fina calling for a number of regulations to be discussed and implemented.
