By shattering world records and winning eight out of eight possible gold medals, Michael Phelps has put swimming in the spotlight. but as NBC 15’s Michelle Riell reports, it’s also put more of an emphasis on the need for high tech swim wear at the collegiate level.
It’s an image many saw as it happened over the weekend, Michael Phelps making Olympic history. He did it wearing the new Speedo LZR Racer suite, which was designed by leading researchers and NASA to create 10% less drag in the water. Eric Hansen says, “Our sport changed, it’s a different sport now.” Hansen is the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Coach and the UW- Madison. He’s been watching the evolution of the sport and says if the NCAA will allow the new suits, the UW will be forced to wear them in order to stay competitive. Hansen says, “When these suits are ratified for NCAA use, it’s just going to go through the roof. Our record board will change from top to bottom. pretty rapidly.”