speedo

“Faster. Stronger. Higher.” Michael Phelps brought unwanted attention to his interpretation of the last word of the Olympic motto, so the swimming world is probably happy to shift focus back to the ongoing controversy regarding “faster.”

Every four years, we watch. We marvel at badminton and wonder about the modern decathlon. With more than 300 gold medals awarded across 37 disciplines, our lives are suddenly much less productive. To aid in your immersion, we continue with our daily edition of "know your Olympic sport," by answering some and posing some questions about the science of Michael Phelps (and swimming).

Who better to design technology for the pool then Speedo? Most underwater MP3 options consist of cases for an iPod, an awkward, uncomfortable, clunky device for enthusiasts wanting to spend hours in the pool. The Aquabeat, launched this summer ($150), is one the first MP3 players truly designed for underwater use. It even floats.

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Even we didnt guess it would be this good. When I wrote last month about Speedos latest swimsuit—an extremely high-tech full-body wonder—three world records had already been broken by LZR-clad swimmers. Coincidence? Maybe. But, after eight more records fell in the past month, the suit is causing some serious waves.

Shaving your legs just isnt enough to give swimmers an edge anymore. With a combination of computational fluid dynamics, aerospace engineering and a bit of help from NASA, Speedo has launched its latest swimsuit built to shatter records at the Olympic Games this summer in Beijing—or before.