While the suits are no longer super, swimming attire still has a big impact at the pool

By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer

Fifteen years ago, Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics wearing a high-tech swimsuit with a catchy name, the Speedo LZR Racer. The super suit era lasted only one more year, thwarted by a ludicrous assault on the record book. But it still matters what a swimmer is wearing. With the Paris Olympics about eight months away, Speedo unveiled its newest suits this week with improved versions of the Fastskin LZR Intent and LZR Valor. For Olympic medalists such as Ryan Murphy and Abbey Weitzeil, the suit remains an important weapon against the clock.