Great Britain's triathletes will aim for Olympic glory in Paris, utilizing advanced wetsuits that could potentially enhance their performance during swimming or cycling events.
The cutting-edge suits, developed through a covert testing process by Team GB's Alex Yee and Beth Potter at the Cagliari World Series race, feature innovative materials and increased coverage compared to traditional wetsuits. These suits were conceived in collaboration with the UK Sports Institute, borrowing design elements from aerodynamic technology used in British Cycling's success over the years.
Written by Mike Cavendish, the performance director of British Triathlon, these advanced wetsuits have been given approval for use at the Games. They are tailored to each athlete and not available on retail platforms. The UK Sports Institute worked with its partners, focusing extensively on fluid dynamics, heat regulation, and aerodynamics in their design process.
Cavendish explained that while these suits differ greatly from off-the-shelf models produced by major brands, they aim to provide individualized performance benefits for each athlete based on the specific events - whether swimming or cycling. The designs are unique and not immediately recognizable as a result of their bespokel fit and material treatment.
The UK Sports Institute initially developed these wetsuits for the Paralympics, but later discovered they could also provide benefits to Olympic triathletes despite different rules in place by World Triathlon. "There's a lot of knowledge that we've learned from cycling and swimming which has been transferred over to our triathletes," said Fiona Johnson, senior performance innovation consultant at the UK Sports Institute.
Team GB's rivals may be wary given their successful use of skinsuits in other sports - British Cycling and British Skeleton have utilized drag-reducing suits developed by TotalSim for the 2008 Games. These custom-made suits feature special ridges designed to reduce wind resistance acting on the body, using polyurethane derivatives.
However, Cavendish emphasized that while these wetsuits are a valuable addition to their preparations, they represent just one aspect of Team GB's overall strategy for success in Paris. The team's talent, culture, and detailed planning remain crucial components in striving towards victory at the Games.
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