# Naked swimming question for the Olympics **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284 "2016-08-09T22:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/1 "2016-08-09T22:10:14Z")
First, let me say I’m not doing this to be dirty. When watching the olympic swimming its interesting the special swim suits they wear which I guess reduce drag. Here is my question. Lets just suppose, all the swimmers agreed to do a competitive swimming event totally in the nude (except for goggles and maybe headgear). Now I’m not asking this to be dirty - it could be at night when the facility is cleared out. No cameras. Purely scientific. Would there be a different outcome to a race by swimming nude? Would a certain body type be a disadvantage? I guess they might all swim a little slower but if they are all nude they would all be the same. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/2 "2016-08-09T22:12:25Z")
A tilted rudder might cause a swimmer to go in circles. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/3 "2016-08-09T22:23:37Z")
It appears you both are only talking about male nude swimmers. Female nude swimmers have different issues. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/4 "2016-08-09T22:27:22Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > It appears you both are only talking about male nude swimmers. Female nude swimmers have different issues. > > 😃 [Fish smell joke goes here] ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/5 "2016-08-09T22:32:19Z")
Cold or warm water? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/6 "2016-08-09T22:59:50Z")
Shrinkage ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/7 "2016-08-09T23:35:22Z")
I have never worn a competitive swim suit but I have swam nude many times. You can swim noticeably faster nude than you can with a standard swimsuit on. Normal swimsuits introduce drag and reduce freedom of movement. There are high-tech suits that have even lower resistance in water than human skin but they have been banned from most major competitions including the Olympics. Competitive swimmers actually wanted those versions to cover as much skin as possible before they were banned. “More than 130 swimming world records have been broken from 2008 through 2009 by the use of these high-tech swimsuits, but as of the beginning of 2010, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) have unanimously voted to ban the use of these suits in official competition.[1] The banned suits are polyurethane based, and guidelines as of 2015 simply require that suits “Be permeable to water, contain no metal, rubber or polyurethane” as well as coverage requirements which ban the use of neck-to-ankle suits for both men’s and women’s competition.[2]” > **[High-technology swimwear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-technology_swimwear_fabric)** > > High-technology swimwear, or tech suits, are scientifically advanced materials used for swimwear in competitive water sports such as swimming and triathlon. Materials of this type are normally spandex and nylon composite fabrics with features to reduce drag against the water. The fabrics include features that increase the swimmer's glide through water and reduce the absorption of water by the suit as opposed to regular swimsuits. > High-technology swimwear is designed to reduce drag and improve sw... ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/8 "2016-08-09T23:41:59Z")
The physiological response to chilly water proves that nature had swimming competitions high on its list of functional requirements for males. As soon as it senses you are in the water, it automatically retracts the anchor. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/9 "2016-08-09T23:42:39Z")
I wondered what happened to that trend. As an admirer of the male form, I am glad to see the return of torsos to swimming competitions. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/10 "2016-08-10T01:28:23Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > “More than 130 swimming world records have been broken from 2008 through 2009 by the use of these high-tech swimsuits, but as of the beginning of 2010, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) have unanimously voted to ban the use of these suits in official competition.[1] The banned suits are polyurethane based, and guidelines as of 2015 simply require that suits “Be permeable to water, contain no metal, rubber or polyurethane” as well as coverage requirements which ban the use of neck-to-ankle suits for both men’s and women’s competition.[2]” The banned suits were Buoyancy suits. Low-drag materials are still legal, but it’s not clear that they have major advantages: the suppliers claim up to 5%, independent testing suggests down to less than 0.5%. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/11 "2016-08-10T02:01:23Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I have never worn a competitive swim suit but I have swam nude many times. You can swim noticeably faster nude than you can with a standard swimsuit on. Normal swimsuits introduce drag and reduce freedom of movement. > > There are high-tech suits that have even lower resistance in water than human skin but they have been banned from most major competitions including the Olympics. Competitive swimmers actually wanted those versions to cover as much skin as possible before they were banned. > > “More than 130 swimming world records have been broken from 2008 through 2009 by the use of these high-tech swimsuits, but as of the beginning of 2010, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) have unanimously voted to ban the use of these suits in official competition.[1] The banned suits are polyurethane based, and guidelines as of 2015 simply require that suits “Be permeable to water, contain no metal, rubber or polyurethane” as well as coverage requirements which ban the use of neck-to-ankle suits for both men’s and women’s competition.[2]” > > [High-technology swimwear - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-technology_swimwear_fabric) So your saying they would swim faster in the nude? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/12 "2016-08-10T02:03:12Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > It appears you both are only talking about male nude swimmers. Female nude swimmers have different issues. > > 😃 Are you talking breasts? Seeing that female swimmers work out so much they have little up there I doubt that would be an issue. I cannot see how 2 tiny bumps on their chests would slow them down. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/13 "2016-08-10T02:13:10Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > So your saying they would swim faster in the nude? No, they would not. Olympic swimmers have tested themselves nude and reported that while they felt like they were swimming faster they were noticeably slower. I’m not sure if that was compared to the current suits or the buoyancy suits. In my experience there’s no doubt that swimming in the nude is slower than swimming with a proper suit, especially with the modern suits. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/14 "2016-08-10T05:59:56Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There are high-tech suits that have even lower resistance in water than human skin but they have been banned from most major competitions including the Olympics. Competitive swimmers actually wanted those versions to cover as much skin as possible before they were banned. These suits were quite thin, and worn very tight. Leading to some spectacular ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ while wearing them. The poster boy for this, of course, is[Ricky Berens](http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/rickyberensass__oPt.jpg), who had his suit split just before the start of the World Swimming Championship in Rome in 2009. FINA banned them soon after this public display. About Rickt Berens - He was hoping to win this heat, but was a little behind all the way. - He had hoped to break the world record, but only got a little crack at it. - He still proved to be a buttress of support for his team. - After they qualified, the team went for a celebration dinner of rump roast. … And way too many other jokes to include here. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/15 "2016-08-10T06:51:00Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, they would not. Olympic swimmers have tested themselves nude and reported that while they felt like they were swimming faster they were noticeably slower. I’m not sure if that was compared to the current suits or the buoyancy suits. In my experience there’s no doubt that swimming in the nude is slower than swimming with a proper suit, especially with the modern suits. What is the definition of a ‘proper suit’ though? I don’t doubt you in general but there has to be some sort of limit. Regular men’s bathing suits are like wet shorts and create significant drag. I would guess that they really do slow you down like a lesser version of swimming in wet jeans and a T-shirt. There isn’t much material on a Speedo type suit at all so I can believe they have little effect or a small positive one on swim time. With women, I would still guess that typical one piece suits slow them down because they create more drag than bare skin. Is that not true? I am referring to the typical one piece bathing suit that you would expect to see someone wearing at the beach. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/16 "2016-08-10T07:10:13Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > With women, I would still guess that typical one piece suits slow them down because they create more drag than bare skin. Is that not true? I am referring to the typical one piece bathing suit that you would expect to see someone wearing at the beach. Why would you guess this? There’s no law of nature that says that human skin has the lowest possible drag coefficient in water. If anything, you’d think that evolutionary factors would prioritize other characteristics, like flexibility and durability. So it’s entirely possible that common synthetic fabrics create less drag than bare skin. Obviously, much is going to depend not only on the fabric of the suit but on the cut, and since bathing suits designed for beachwear purposes aren’t built for speed, yeah, they may well tend to slow you down. But bathing suits designed for performance swimming? I see no reason to assume that they would create more drag than swimming in the nip. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/17 "2016-08-10T10:50:23Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > guidelines as of 2015 simply require that suits “Be permeable to water, contain no metal, rubber or polyurethane” as well as coverage requirements which ban the use of neck-to-ankle suits for both men’s and women’s competition.[2]" > > [High-technology swimwear - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-technology_swimwear_fabric) It’s a lot more strict than that: > [@](#): > > 4.1.4 Material (general) > • Health: The material used must not put the health of the athletes at risk. > • Type of material: the material used for swimsuits can be only “Textile Fabric(s)”. For the > purpose of these rules, this is defined as material consisting of, natural and/or synthetic, > individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting, > and/or braiding. > • Surface treatment of the textile fabric: any material added on to the surface of the textile > fabric (any part thereof) or processing of the same (e.g. coating, printing, impregnation, > > 6 Swimsuits fulfilling shape requirements for pool competitions comply a fortiori with shape requirements for Open Water swimming competitions. > “FINA Requirements for Swimwear Approval” > (Regulations valid for swimwear to be approved with effect from January 1, 2015) > Page 8 of 25 > Approved by the FINA Bureau on November 28, 2014 > heating, calendering etc.) shall not close the overall open mesh structure of the base > textile fabric. The treated material shall further comply with all requirements in particular > in regard to thickness, permeability and flexibility which must be and remain complied > with both at production stage until finished product stage and when the swimsuits are in > actual use. The rules regarding surface treatment do not apply to seams (sawn, welded, > taped, glued, etc.), markings (manufacturer and/or sponsor logos as permitted by the > applicable competition rules: printed or affixed on the base material) or labels7 (technical > labels as permitted by the rules). > • Flexibility: the material shall be flexible and soft folding. > • Regular flat material: The material shall be regular and flat. The material shall not form > outstanding shapes or structures, such as scales. A thickness variation of the material is > permitted provided the thinnest point should not be less than 50% of the thickest point. > The overall thickness limitation (0.8mm) shall in any event be respected at the thickest > point(s). > • Variation of colours: Variation of colours of the same material is possible as long as the > colouring does not affect compliance with tested values limits. Manufacturers are fully > responsible to ensure that requirements in respect of all tested values (permeability, > thickness, etc.) are respected in any colour variation. > • Outside application: No outside application shall be added on the material. > • Variety of materials: Different materials may be used in one swimsuit provided all > materials are textile fabrics as defined above and the swimsuit complies with all other > criteria. > • Combination/inside layer: A combination of maximum two layers of materials is permitted. > The combination of layers shall not create outstanding shape(s) or structure(s). An inside > layer of material can be used notably for comfort, protection of sensitive parts or decency. > Permeability and thickness of layered materials shall be measured on both layers as > combined together and the combination of layers must thus comply with thickness and > permeability requirements as set forth in these rules in all parts of the swimsuit. [http://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/frsa.pdf](http://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/frsa.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/18 "2016-08-10T11:39:18Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Regular men’s bathing suits are like wet shorts and create significant drag. Competitive swimmers don’t use those, so it’s not really relevant to the conversation. Racing suits not only don’t add drag, they lessen drag by smoothing out the body surface. Modern speed suits do so even better. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/19 "2016-08-10T11:41:14Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > With women, I would still guess that typical one piece suits slow them down because they create more drag than bare skin. Is that not true? I am referring to the typical one piece bathing suit that you would expect to see someone wearing at the beach. A lot of the competition suits are compression suits, they are tight and hard to put on. The jammer/knee length suits most wear in the Olympics are supposed to help, though I’m not sure why being tight helps that much. The women’s suits can really help pull in the breasts, I’ve known some well endowed women that you’d be hard to tell they were in a higher end suit. I imagine that they are not that comfortable though after awhile. I own a few of those old tech suits, though not the ones that help with buoyancy, and they pull in the skin and help the streamline. Any kind of loose skin will slow you down, at least in high end competition. When I swim I can tell the difference between a workout suit and a suit most people wear. As for the OP, I can imagine that swimming nude would be at least a slight bit slower, maybe not so much for the men, but I can’t imagine any kind of movement with the breasts not slowing a woman down at least a bit. If I remember, and I can talk to the right woman, I will ask her what they think at my next workout. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284/20 "2016-08-10T17:00:41Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > A lot of the competition suits are compression suits, they are tight and hard to put on. The jammer/knee length suits most wear in the Olympics are supposed to help, though I’m not sure why being tight helps that much. The women’s suits can really help pull in the breasts, I’ve known some well endowed women that you’d be hard to tell they were in a higher end suit. I imagine that they are not that comfortable though after awhile. > > I own a few of those old tech suits, though not the ones that help with buoyancy, and they pull in the skin and help the streamline. Any kind of loose skin will slow you down, at least in high end competition. When I swim I can tell the difference between a workout suit and a suit most people wear. > > As for the OP, I can imagine that swimming nude would be at least a slight bit slower, maybe not so much for the men, but I can’t imagine any kind of movement with the breasts not slowing a woman down at least a bit. If I remember, and I can talk to the right woman, I will ask her what they think at my next workout. But the question is, if all the swimmers were nude, would it effect the outcome of the race? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-swimming-question-for-the-olympics/762284.md?page=2)