25 world-record times while dominating the National Aquatic Center’s pool. By comparison, only five world records changed hands during the track and field events. But many of those swimming records fell only as a result of newly instituted bodysuit technology, relative advances that aren’t applicable to runners, high-jumpers, and shotputters.

Have humans reached their peak athletic performance? One study argues that’s the case, and that without the continued use of technology, the past roars of Olympic crowds will one day be nothing but whimpers in the stands.

In Beijing, both swimming and track and field had their own stars, genetic freaks that literally towered over their competitors. In the water, it was Michael Phelps, the most decorated gold medal Olympian of all-time, who snagged four records on his own, and another three as a member of a relay team. Phelps’ terra firma equal was Usain Bolt, who set three world records in track and field on his way to Olympic glory.

Yet the mere presence of exceptional athletes didn’t explain the discrepancy in the rise in the number of world records. Rather, the difference could be entirely attributed to technology. Almost 95 percent of swimmers that won races during the 2008 Olympics were wearing the high-performance — and highly controversial — Speedo LZR suit.

An outfit forged from slick, polyurethane panels, the LZR suit was developed in NASA wind tunnels and specifically designed to reduce both skin friction and viscous drag.

After Beijing, manufacturers raced to take technical swimsuits to the next level. If the LZR suit, which is about half polyurethane, helped swimmers break records, companies wondered what would happen if they fabricated a suit made entirely from the slippery polymer?

During the FINA 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Phelps lost the 200 freestyle to Paul Biedermann of Germany, who was wearing the 100-percent polyurethane Arena X-Glide. Phelps, who couldn’t stomach losing to Biedermann — a guy who finished four seconds behind him in Beijing — planned to boycott international events until the polyurethane suits were outlawed. Soon after, FINA banned all technical materials, saying competitors must wear suits made from textiles or woven fabrics.

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Authors: Brian Mossop

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