The futuristic high-tech swimsuits that helped athletes break records at the Beijing Olympics and 2009 FINA Swimming World Championships now are a thing of the past.
USA Swimming officially banned the suits from competition effective Oct. 1, and FINA has voted to ban them starting in 2010.
Both agencies say high-tech suits aid buoyancy and those worn in future competitions must be made from more traditional materials — natural or synthetic textiles as opposed to polyurethane. U.S. high school and college athletes are also restricted from wearing the high-tech suits.
Here is a list of FINA-approved suits.