In 2000 Speedo launched the FastSkin body suit; but the frenzy surrounding the suit was overwhelming and Speedo couldn't keep up with the demand for the suit.

In March 2004 Speedo launched its newest most extensively tested swimsuit ever, the Speedo Fastskin FSII.

Whether you like it or not, swimming is changing. The body suits are here to stay, swimmers are becoming celebrities, and Speedo has international swimsuit launches.

In March 2004 Speedo launched their newest suit the Fastskin FSII, its newest most extensively tested swimsuit ever. It was simultaneously launched in New York, London and Sydney after four years of research that included work with a computational fluid dynamics engineer and software designer, the Matrix and Spiderman movie modeling company Cyber FX, and the resident shark expert at the Natural History Museum in London.

Speedo Fastskin's have marked an important and interesting evolution that swimming has taken. No longer a side-show that appears once every four years, swimming and its supporters are working hard to make swimming the star every single day.

Here is the press release launching the suit.

Press Release - Speedo Launches World's Fastest Swimsuit
Mar 10, 2004

NEW YORK, NY - World leader in the pool, Speedo, has launched the swimsuit that will help swimmers blow the competition out of the water in Athens: Speedo FASTSKIN FSII.

Born in the Speedo Aqualab (Speedo's research and development Headquarters), FASTSKIN FSII increases speed by reducing passive drag by up to 4%* more than the next best suit.

FASTSKIN FSII, which is the result of four years research and development, has undergone the most advanced testing and analysis ever seen on a swimsuit and could be the difference between a gold medal and fourth place in the summer.

The research and development process started with a new study of the shark, examining its skin texture and movement through water. The study with the Natural History Museum in London, led to the discovery that the shape and feel of the shark's denticles varies across its body to manage the flow of water. Speedo has taken these new findings and created a full Bodyskin with different fabrics on different parts of the body, optimizing the flow around an athlete and enabling Speedo to create, for the first time, male and female specific and stroke specific swimsuits. This is different from the original FASTSKIN suit which used the same fabric throughout.

Essential to the success of any swimsuit is its acceptance by the world's leading swimmers and coaches. Speedo has been working with elite athletes from around the world to develop FASTSKIN FSII. Known as the Speedo FSII Team, the athletes will be at the forefront of Speedo's challenge in Athens and will include the latest phenomenon from the US, 18 year old Michael Phelps. Phelps, who became the first person to break five world records in a single meet when he won four gold medals at the 2003 World Championships, will be wearing FASTSKIN FSII in Athens in a bid to match Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals. If successful, Speedo will pay Phelps a one million dollar bonus.

Speaking about the suit, Phelps said: "The most important thing for me is that I feel comfortable and confident in my suit as this is what enables me to swim at my best. I am very happy with FASTSKIN FSII and believe it will certainly contribute to my overall performance at the Games."

Passive drag affects a swimmer in the streamline position. The streamline position is achieved after the initial dive and after a turn. During a 50m race, a swimmer is likely to be in the streamline position for up to 15m.

Prior to Speedo FASTSKIN FSII, the world's fastest swimsuit was Speedo FASTSKIN, a swimsuit that mimics the skin of a shark. It revolutionized the swimming world in Sydney where it was worn by swimmers from over 130 countries, resulting in them winning over 80% of the medals and setting 13 out of 15 world records.