Key result
The introduction of three successive generations of swimsuits in 2000, 2008, and 2009 was associated with overall performance gains exceeding 2.0% for both sexes.
Observational
Effect estimate: Gains >2.0%
Technological advancements in swimsuits significantly improved swimming performance by over 2.0%, and their suspension is expected to return performance to 1999 levels.
Questions equipment equity in elite swimming; leaves open causal effects and generalizability beyond Level 5 observational data.
We focus here on the impact of material science in swimming by measuring the impact of the three successive generations of swimsuits on human performance and estimate the upcoming performance drop consecutive to the decision of the FINA to suspend their use. We investigate the recent evolutions of the best performers over the 1990 — 2009 period and demonstrate that three bursts of performances occurred in 2000, 2008 and 2009. The overall observed gains of these bursts exceed 2.0% for both sexes. The drop in performance that may result from this rule change may return to similar levels as seen in 1999.
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Berthelot et al. (2010) conducted an observational in Swimming performance. Successive generations of swimsuits vs. Previous swimsuit generations was evaluated on Swimming performance (Gains >2.0%). The introduction of three successive generations of swimsuits in 2000, 2008, and 2009 was associated with overall performance gains exceeding 2.0% for both sexes.
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