The sleek new Speedo LZR fastskin Racer swimsuit ($550) makes you look like a superhero from The Incredibles. As you can see from the video, it also enhances the bulk of your thighs and propels the Vitruvian man to come out of you. How neat is that? The suit, developed with the help of NASA, or as Michael Phelps words it, “the people that help the astronauts and stuff” has already come under intense scrutiny.

Italy has banned the suit from its Olympic trials and spring nationals. Canada’s swim federation decided it was unfair for athletes to wear the suit at its Olympic trials unless everyone had access to it. The world swim federation will meet with apparel manufacturers at the world short-course championships in England next week.

According to Speedo, the LZR Racer, which was developed with the help of NASA, has 5 percent less drag than the Fastskin FS-Pro, another suit the swimwear giant released last year. Just knowing that, noted former Stanford standout Ben Wildman-Tobriner, could give swimmers a boost. “I think a lot of the technology is mental,” Wildman-Tobriner said. “If you think you have a great suit on that will make you go faster, you will.”

That totally doesn’t work, brah. Didn’t you listen to Phelps? NASA helps the astronauts, so this thing must be amazing. Can we quit with the horseplay and get some jet packs into the world for the common man!

NEW BODYSUIT IS PROVING FAST, AND HAS SOME ASKING QUESTIONS [Mercury News]
Video [YouTube]