Captain Matthew Webb used a wool swimsuit. Some channel swimming associations allow jammers; others do not allow swimsuits to go past the groin.
The issue of swimsuits have been increasingly controversial as the technology of synthetic fibers, use of compression panels, and the amount of body coverage is debated among both pool swimmers and open water swimmers.
But leave it to fun-loving, creative design students at the London College of Fashion to turn heads with the Speedo LZR.
Even though the Speedo LZR swimsuit that was used to set nearly 100 world records in the pool, and is now banned from all use in pools and many open water events, it was resurrected as a fashion item. The students recycled the LZR suits for a collection of designs that may be released this year.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.