The Lzr Racer, which reached must have status after its stellar showing at the US Olympics in Beijing earlier this year, is now available at a swim store near you.

While they are a completely mind-blowing piece of technology, they really do not have a place in competitive swimming (at least if you have any respect for swimming as a sport). Oh...and don't forget that they are super cool looking!

In fact, my own 10 year old son (9 at the time) expressed his desire to have one of the LZR jammers. At his age, it was more about the fact that he had seen the likes of Michael Phelps sporting the LZR line of technical suits than his interest in being faster.

According to Speedo’s own website, “These are very high performance products and limited numbers are available worldwide”.

In my opinion, this means: limited quantities = higher prices = cost prohibitive = creates an unequal playing field = bad for the sport.

So why do I believe you should not buy these for your swimmers?

• Cost: This reason is self explanatory if you look at the pricing for this Speedo line of tech suits. Even if cost was taken out of the equation, there are several other reasons parents should make the decision to say no to these types of suits.
• Do we really want to give our youth the misconception that these things are a “magic bullet” for being FAST? It’s implied by the nature of marketing and product development that sport equipment manufacturers are already at work on their next” latest and greatest” world record shattering technology.
• Do we want our swimmers to feel like they have to have the leading suit on the market to be competitive? And how many would-be swimmers would be lost because of the higher cost of participation in the already costly sport? This is not in the best interest of swimming.
• Should our young swimmers be focusing on what tech suit is the fastest or on mastering the essential technical aspects of each stroke and event?
• There is still a controversy over these types of suits crossing the line between legal in competition and that of being performance enhancing and therefore banned from competition.

Thankfully, there is currently a moratorium on use of the suits through the 2008-09 NCAA competitive swim season. Unfortunately, the main reasoning is due to the availability of the suits and not the underlying principle of keeping the sport of swimming pure.

However, there is still a chance the moratorium could remain intact even after the availability issues have been worked out.

The CSCAA…expressed concern that the suits may, in fact, aid in flotation and
enhance performance -- both explicitly prohibited by FINA and NCAA rules.
Independent scientific testing, currently under way, should resolve that
issue within the next few months. To date, other than the CSCAA, the only
other major swimming body in the USA to take the position that the suits should
not be allowed is the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA). Last
weekend, USA Swimming banned the suits from age group competition only.

So at least for now, the younger swimmers will not be immediately impacted by the use of these suits in competition.

By the way? Did I mention the price?

Speedo Male Lzr Racer Highneck Bodyskin: $545.95
Speedo Male LZR Racer Legskin: $345.95
Speedo Male LZR Racer Jammer: $285.95
Speedo Female LZR Racer Record Breaker Kneeskin: $419.95
Speedo Female LZR Racer Highneck Bodyskin: $545.95
Speedo Female LZR Racer Record Breaker Bodyskin Price: $469.95