The new bodysuit used by most top swimmers has the capacity to become the single biggest story in Olympic swimming this year. USA swimming have banned everyone from wearing it at the Olympic trials in order to keep the playing field level. But it has been sanctioned by FINA.

The "fastskin" suit is reckoned to be worth somewhere in the region of half a second per 100 metres. The problem for some swimmers such as the legendary Alexander Popov is that he is sponsored by Arena while Speedo and Adidas are the only companies who make the suit.