Design for winners

The Speedo LZR Racer Swimsuit, designed with

CFD software with a little help from Nasa, is not only creating a stir in competitive swimming but has also ignited a fierce debate about how much is too much technology in sport.

Arguments rage in F1 that the team with the most money to throw technology at the sport usually ends up on top.

But in swimming the discussion involves ethics and whether it is right, in a field that usually pits people against the elements unaided by technology, for elite athletes with plenty of sponsorship money to claim world records against others not sporting the latest hi-tech swimwear.

The LZR suit has been worn for 18 of the 19 world records set since its introduction in February.

And since its use has been blessed by swimming's governing body, the International Swimming Federation (FINA), it has already spawned copycat suits and a possible return to disputes such as the 'sport shoe wars'.