View source for Speedo

{{Short description|Swimwear and sports goods company}}
{{About|swimwear maker Speedo International|North American licensee Speedo USA|Warnaco Group|the clothing style|swim briefs|other uses|Speedo (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Speedo International Limited
| logo = Speedo brand logo.svg
| logo_size = 250
| logo_caption = 
| image = Speedo in the "Aquazone" at the 2016 Olympic Trials (28684054792).jpg
| type = [[Private company limited by shares|Private]]
| genre = 
| fate = Acquired
| predecessor = Danomic Investments Ltd.
| successor = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1914}} in [[Sydney]], Australia
| founder = [[Alexander MacRae]]
| defunct = 
| location_city = [[Nottingham]]
| location_country = England
| location = 
| locations = 
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{unbulletedlist
|Chirag Patel <small>([[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]])</small>
}}
| industry = {{unbulletedlist
| [[Textile industry|Textile]]
| [[Footwear]]
}}
| products = {{unbulletedlist
| [[Swimsuit]]s
| [[sportswear (activewear)|Sportswear]]
| [[Flip-flops]]
}}
| services = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| aum = 
| assets = 
| equity = 
| owner = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = [[Pentland Group]]
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.speedo.com}}
| footnotes = <ref name=Speedo1>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7911725 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422063957/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7911725 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2008 |title=Speedo International Limited: Private Company Information |access-date=15 January 2011 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=BusinessWeek}}</ref>
}}

'''Speedo International Limited''' is an Australian-British distributor of [[Swimsuit|swimwear]] and swim-related accessories based in [[Nottingham]], England.

Founded in [[Sydney]], Australia in 1914 by [[Alexander MacRae]], a Scottish emigrant, the company is now a subsidiary of the British [[Pentland Group]]. Today, the Speedo brand can be found on products ranging from swimsuits and goggles to wristwatches.<ref name="Speedo2">{{cite web|url=http://www.speedo.com|title=Speedo|work=Speedo.com|publisher=[[Warnaco Group]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Speedo brand was previously manufactured for and marketed in North America as Speedo USA by [[PVH (company)|PVH]], under an exclusive perpetual licence,<ref name="YearEnd2009">{{cite journal |title=2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K |pages=1–3 |author=Warnaco |journal=Warnaco 2009 Annual Report |year=2010 |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Mzc4NjUyfENoaWxkSUQ9Mzc3ODc0fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1|format=pdf}}</ref> which had acquired prior licensee [[Warnaco Group]] in 2013. In January 2020, the Pentland Group purchased back the rights from PVH for $170 million in cash, subject to regulatory approval.<ref name="PentlandBuyout">{{Cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/speedo-international-parent-company-buys-speedo-north-america-for-170-million/|title=Speedo International Parent Company buys Speedo North America for $170 Million|date=2020-01-09|website=Swimswam|language=en|access-date=2020-01-10}}</ref>

In accordance with its Australian roots, Speedo uses a [[boomerang]] as its symbol.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/speedo-making-splash-90567 |title=Speedo: Making a Splash |first=Keith |last=Naughton |date=2008-06-20 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en |access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref> Due to its success in the swimwear industry, the word ''Speedo'' has become a very well-known [[trademark]] brand for racing bathing suits.

== History ==

=== Speedo Knitting Mills ===
[[File:1932 Aus Olympic.jpg|right|thumb|170px|Australian swimmers [[Bonnie Mealing]], [[Clare Dennis]], [[Frances Bult]] with chaperone and sprinters [[Eileen Wearne]] (Aus) and [[Thelma Kench]] (NZ) at the [[1932 Summer Olympics|1932 Los Angeles Olympics]]]]
Company founder [[Alexander MacRae]] emigrated from [[Loch Kishorn]] in the western [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands of Scotland]] to Sydney, Australia in 1910. Originally working as a [[milkman]], he founded ''MacRae and Company Hosiery'' four years later, manufacturing [[underwear]] under the [[brand name]] ''Fortitude'' (taken from his [[family crest]]).<ref name=Speedo3>{{Google books|QqtinbjO0oEC|1001 Australians You Should Know|page=361}}</ref> The [[Australian Army]]'s need for socks during [[World War I]] provided MacRae with enough business to expand and in 1927 his first line of swimwear, called a "racer-back costume" was introduced. The following year, a naming contest held among the MacRae staff yielded the slogan "Speed on in your Speedos." The brand name was born. The contest winner, Captain Parsonson, was awarded £5 for his slogan and the company was renamed ''Speedo Knitting Mills''.<ref name=Speedo3 />

The controversial yet revolutionary [[racerback]] style's open shoulder and exposed back allowed greater range of motion in water and was quickly adopted by [[Swimming (sport)|competitive swimmers]], despite being banned by some beaches.<ref name=Speedo4>{{cite web |url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/australia_innovates/?Section_id=1040&article_id=10053&behaviour=view_article |title=Speedo Swimwear |access-date=15 January 2011 |publisher=[[Powerhouse Museum]]|work=Australia Innovates}}</ref> In 1932, Speedo made its Olympic debut when 16-year old Australian [[Clare Dennis]] won the [[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Women's 200 metre Breaststroke]] at the [[1932 Summer Olympics|Los Angeles Olympic Games]]. After nearly being disqualified for "showing too much shoulder" in her regulation silk Speedo brand swimsuit, Dennis went on to set a world record time of 3:06.3.<ref name=Speedo5>{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dennis-clara-clare-9951 |first=V.M. |last=Rasjela |title=Clara (Clare) Dennis (1916–1971) |access-date=15 January 2011 |year=1993 |volume=13}}</ref> The [[1936 Berlin Olympics|1936 Berlin Summer Games]] also saw some controversy as the men's Australian swim team featured shirtless swim trunks for the first time. Also in 1936, Alexander MacRae became involved in the [[Surf Life Saving Australia|Surf Life Saving Association]]. To this day, Speedo continues to support the Australian volunteer organisation.<ref name=Speedo6>{{cite web |url=http://explore.speedousa.com/speedo-history/ |title=Speedo History |access-date=15 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo International |work=Explore Speedo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225095148/http://explore.speedousa.com/speedo-history/ |archive-date=25 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Post-War expansion ===
After devoting most of its resources to the [[War effort]] during [[Australia during World War II|World War II]], Speedo enjoyed a great [[post-war]] demand for swimsuits, specifically the recently invented [[bikini]] style. The company quickly reestablished itself as a leader in swimwear manufacturing and once again drew controversy when its two-piece was banned by Australian beach inspectors.<ref name=Speedo6 /> In 1951, Speedo Knitting Mills (Holdings) Ltd. [[Corporation|incorporated]] and [[Initial public offering|went public]], selling its stock on the [[Australian Securities Exchange|Sydney Stock Exchange]].<ref name=Speedo6 /> In 1955, nylon was used for the first time in the company's swimsuits<ref name=Speedo7>{{cite web |url=http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/inventions.htm |title=The Inventive Australian Mind |access-date=16 January 2011 |work=ConvictCreations.Com |archive-date=15 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215005215/http://convictcreations.com/culture/inventions.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the next year, the increasingly popular swimsuit brand returned to the Olympics when its home country hosted the [[1956 Summer Olympics|Melbourne Summer Games]].<ref name=Speedo3 /> The Speedo sponsored [[Australia at the 1956 Summer Olympics|Australian men's swim team]] took home eight [[gold medal]]s<ref name="sports-reference">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/AUS/summer/1956/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417044353/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/AUS/summer/1956/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games |access-date=12 October 2010 |work=sports-reference.com}}</ref> and brought a new worldwide level of notoriety to the company which debuted the [[swim briefs]] that would become synonymous with the brand name. By 1957, Speedo had the exclusive licence to manufacture and distribute [[Jockey International|Jockey]] brand men's underwear in Australia.<ref name=Speedo9>{{cite news |title=Australia's Finest Sportswear |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lXhWAAAAIBAJ&dq=speedo%20knitting%20mills&pg=1072%2C5251610 |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=25 February 1957 |access-date=17 January 2011}}</ref> The company finished off the 1950s by exporting to the United States and exploring potential opportunities in South America, Europe, New Zealand and Japan.<ref name=Speedo6 />

The end of the 1950s also saw the beginning of a long-lasting business partnership which continues to this day. In 1958, Speedo began the manufacture of American [[Warnaco Group|Warnaco's]] [[White Stag (clothing)|White Stag]] ski-wear line. In exchange, in 1961, White Stag became the exclusive US distributor of Speedo swimwear. Through White Stag, Speedo's product line expanded to include men's and women's sportswear.<ref name=Speedo10>{{cite news |title=Profits |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gIVWAAAAIBAJ&dq=speedo&pg=2816%2C6331813 |newspaper= Sydney Morning Herald |date=17 April 1970 |access-date=17 January 2011}}</ref> By the middle of the 1960s, Speedo had acquired 30% of [[Nottingham]], England textile manufacturer Robert Shaw & Company and had established a European subsidiary. Licences were also granted to Japanese and South American corporations.<ref name=Speedo6 /> The [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics]] saw 27 of the 29 gold medalists—22 of which set world records—wearing Speedo brand swimsuits.<ref name=Speedo6 />

Speedo began the next decade by completing its acquisition of Robert Shaw & Company in 1971.<ref name=Speedo8>{{Google books|T1fgAAAAMAAJ|Costume: the journal of The Costume Society, Volume 1; Volume 35; Volume 24|page=80}}</ref> The 1970s also saw the company pioneer the use of [[spandex|elastane (spandex)]] and the brand's use in Olympic record breaking continued at the [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]] and [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]] games, the latter of which Speedo was an official swimwear licensee.<ref name=Speedo6 />

On [[Australia Day]], 26 January 1981 the [[Australian Institute of Sport]] opened in [[Canberra]], with Speedo as its first official sponsor.<ref name=Speedo6 /> Also early in the decade, Speedo provided equipment and training to China<ref name=Speedo6 /> to aid the communist country's return to the Olympics for first time since 1958.<ref name="China Olympism">{{cite journal |journal=Olympic Review |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |editor=Monique Berlioux |issue=190–191 |date=August–September 1983 |title=China and Olympism |pages=583–592 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1983/ore190/ORE190za.pdf |access-date=13 August 2008}}</ref> Throughout the decade, the brand expanded its reach in Europe by licensing production in Italy, Spain, Sweden and other nations, bringing its total distribution to 112 countries.<ref name=Speedo6 />

=== Modern technology ===
In 1990, British sportswear firm [[Pentland Group]], which had just sold its shares of sneaker company [[Reebok]], acquired a significant stake in Warnaco offshoot Authentic Fitness, which was the exclusive North American licensee of Speedo. Pentland followed this move with the purchase of 80% of Speedo (Europe) Ltd. Early the next year, Pentland completed its aggressive entrance into the global swimwear market by wholly acquiring Speedo Australia and Speedo International.<ref name=Speedo11>{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Pentland-Group-plc-Company-History.html |title=Pentland Group Plc – Company History |access-date=16 January 2011 |work=Funding Universe}}</ref> Under Pentland's ownership, Speedo expanded its line of swimwear to include more fashion-oriented beachwear as well as [[triathlon]] accessories.

[[File:Unveiling of LZR Racer in NYC 2008-02-13.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Michael Phelps (centre) unveils the Speedo [[LZR Racer]] suit.]]
The 1990s saw the creation of the low-drag S2000 suit, the [[chlorine]] resistant Endurance line as well as the Aquablade series which was worn by more than three-fourths of medal winners at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games.<ref name=Speedo6 />

Speedo began the 21st century with the introduction of its Fastskin swimsuit and, again, broke world records when the Summer Games returned to the swimwear leader's home town. The company website boasts that 13 out of the 15 swimming records broken in the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]] were by athletes wearing Speedo.<ref name="Distillations">{{cite journal|last1=Roberts|first1=Jacob |title=Winning Skin |journal=Distillations |date=2017|volume=2|issue=4|pages=8–15|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/winning-skin|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref> Three years later, Speedo celebrated its 75th anniversary with special limited edition lines endorsed by [[Jerry Hall]], [[Naomi Campbell]] and others. In 2004, [[Michael Phelps]] wore the Fastskin II, the latest evolution of the Fastskin series,<ref name=Speedo6 /> in [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens]] to become the first swimmer to earn eight medals.<ref name="Distillations"/><ref name=phelps>{{cite web |url=http://swimming.teamusa.org/athletes/michael-phelps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604053902/http://swimming.teamusa.org/athletes/michael-phelps |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2010 |title=Michael Phelps {{!}} Athletes {{!}} USA Swimming |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |work=Team USA}}</ref> Phelps followed up this performance four years later, earning eight golds<ref name=phelps /> at [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing]], while wearing Speedo's LZR Racer suit<ref name=Speedo6 /><ref name="Distillations"/> In 2010, the company launched Speedo Sculpture ShapeLine, a new line of body-shaping swimsuits for women.<ref name="shape">{{cite press release |title= Speedo Launches Shapeline – Swimwear Made By Real Women For Real Women|url= http://www.prlog.org/10553698-speedo-launches-shapeline-swimwear-made-by-real-women-for-real-women.pdf|publisher= Speedo|date= 1 March 2010|access-date=18 January 2011}}</ref>

== Products ==
[[File:Speedo, 41-43 Neal Street, Covent Garden 01.jpg|thumbnail|Speedo shop, Neal Street, [[Covent Garden]], [[London]]]]
Although the brand name Speedo is often [[Genericized trademark|genericised]] to refer to any style of men's swim briefs, these account for less than 2% of the company's sales.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2005-11-30-speedo-usat_x.htm |title=Speedo Speeds Suits to Winter Athletes |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Gannet Co., Inc. |work=[[USA Today]]|date=December 2005 |first1=Bruce |last1=Horovitz}}</ref> The Speedo name can be found on a wide range of swimsuit styles for men, women, and children focusing on performance and style. Speedo also offers a range of sportswear, footwear, and accessories ranging from swim goggles to electronics. Additionally, Speedo International offers a line of men's underwear and Speedo Australia features a line of underwear called ''Speedo Underbody'' for men and women, sold only in select [[David Jones (department store)|David Jones]] retail stores.<ref name=FAQ>{{cite web |url=http://help.speedo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/255 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203062139/http://help.speedo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/255 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |title=Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo International Limited |work=Speedo}}</ref>

=== Accessories ===
Speedo offers a broad range of swim accessories including more than seventy models of goggles,<ref name="goggles">{{cite web |url=http://www.speedo.com/swimwear_products/swimming_equipment/index.html |title=Speedo Equipment and Footwear |access-date=16 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo International Ltd. |work=Speedo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215102614/http://www.speedo.com/swimwear_products/swimming_equipment/index.html |archive-date=15 February 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> several models of watches, sunglasses, and towels. In addition, Speedo offers several lines of [[aquatic fitness]] aids and swim aids for children and adults as well as [[Scuba set|scuba]] masks, [[Snorkeling|snorkels]] and [[swimfins]]. Speedo International offers a line of beach games equipment not offered on the SpeedoUSA website.

=== Footwear ===
The Speedo brand can be found on a wide variety of footwear including sandals, [[flip-flops]], and water shoes. Speedo USA offers waterproof sneakers for aqua fitness training.<ref name="shoes">{{cite web |url=http://www.speedousa.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3701560 |title=Footwear |access-date=16 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo USA |work=speedousa.com |archive-date=8 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308232312/http://www.speedousa.com/category/index.jsp?clickid=topnav_footwear&categoryId=3701560 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Speedo Digital ===
The Speedo Digital line of accessories includes the waterproof Aquabeat and LZR Racer Aquabeat digital music players and related accessories, which are manufactured by South Korean consumer electronics company [[Iriver]].<ref name="iriver">{{cite press release | publisher = Iriver | date = 14 April 2009 | script-title=ja:スピード レーザー･レーサー アクアビート |trans-title=Speedo LZR Racer Aquabeat | url = http://www.iriver.co.jp/images/press/pdf/iriver_press20090414.pdf | access-date =18 January 2011 | language = ja }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}</ref> Speedo's electronics offerings also include the Auquashot waterproof [[digital camera]].

=== Speedos Café ===
{{Empty section|date=August 2024}}

== Swimwear ==
Speedo USA's men's collections are categorised as: Competition, Racing, [[Boardshorts]] and [[Trunks (clothing)|Swim Trunks]], Fashion, and [[Lifeguard]].<ref name=USA>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedousa.com/home/index.jsp |title=Speedo USA Swimwear |access-date=16 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo USA |work=SpeedoUSA.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129020311/http://www.speedousa.com/home/index.jsp |archive-date=29 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Speedo International's men's offerings also include wetsuits.<ref name="International">{{cite web |url=http://store.speedo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Home_10651_10202_-1 |title=Official Speedo Swimwear, Online Sales & Info |access-date=16 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo International Limited |work=Speedo.com |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116223045/https://store.speedo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Home_10651_10202_-1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both Speedo USA and Speedo International also offer a wide range of children's styles including performance, racing, fashion and beginner lines.<ref name=USA /><ref name=International />

=== Controversial technology ===
Swim records were broken in Speedo brand silk suits in the 1930s, and the company was the first to introduce the use of nylon in the 1950s<ref name=Speedo7 /> and later nylon/elastane in the 1970s.<ref name=Speedo6 /> Speedo's most recent technological advances are found in the Fastskin, Fastskin FS II series and the LZR Racer suit.<ref name="Distillations"/> Throughout the company's history, though, it seemed each design innovation was met with great controversy. [[Clare Dennis]] was nearly disqualified from her record-breaking Olympic meet because her suit showed too much skin;<ref name=Speedo5 /> early Speedo bikinis were banned from some Australian beaches;<ref name=Speedo6 /> more recently, the [[NASA]] technology in the LZR Racer suit [[Michael Phelps]] wore at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]] was the subject of great media scrutiny.<ref name="Distillations"/>

==== Fastskin ====
In 2000, British designer and former competitive swimmer [[Fiona Fairhurst]] was named as a finalist for [[European Inventor of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epo.org/topics/innovation-and-economy/european-inventor/nominees/2009/fairhurst.html|title=A revolutionary swimsuit|publisher=[[European Patent Office]]|access-date=29 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423061041/http://www.epo.org/topics/innovation-and-economy/european-inventor/nominees/2009/fairhurst.html|archive-date=23 April 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Fairhurst helped Speedo's Aqualab design team invent the first-of-its-kind Fastskin swimsuit. Inspired by the varying skin texture of a [[shark]], Fairhurst told the [[BBC]] that she was "looking to develop a fabric that mimics nature".<ref name="Fastskin1">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2009/05/01/fiona_fairhurst_design_heroes_feature.shtml |title=Design Heroes: Fiona Fairhurst |access-date=18 January 2011 |publisher=BBC |work=Profiles |date=May 2009}}</ref> Both the Fastskin and Fastkskin FS II are textured with bumps and ridges in key places, similar to those on a shark's skin. These ridges are claimed to channel the water over the swimmer's body in a more efficient manner than traditional material suits.<ref name=Fastskin2>{{cite web |url=http://www.howstuffworks.com/swimsuit-swim-faster4.htm |title=Can a swimsuit make you swim faster? |access-date=18 January 2011 |publisher=Discovery |work=HowStuffWorks.com |author=Susan Nasr|date=24 February 2009 }}</ref> However, research in 2012 has suggested that the artificial sharkskin patterning does not benefit human swimmers, whose body movement is different from sharks.<ref name="Distillations"/>

In addition, the suits are custom designed for the type of [[Swimming stroke|stroke]] the swimmer will use as well as being engineered differently for women and for men. These high-tech suits make use of elastic compression materials to limit muscle oscillation and to compress the swimmer's body, while in other areas a more flexible fabric is used to allow greater range of motion. Leaving no detail overlooked, the design team also uses low-profile seams. According to author Frank Vizard, the Fastskin suits reduce drag by up to four per cent.<ref name=fastskin3>{{Google books|q9M4pe3kmUC|Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports|200}}</ref> Speedo adapted this new fabric technology for the [[2006 Winter Olympics]].<ref name=USAToday /> The full-bodied Fastskin FSII Ice suits were debuted by the [[silver medal]] winning [[Bobsleigh at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Two-woman|American women's bobsled team]].<ref name=Bobsleigh>{{cite web|title=Torino 2006 Official Report – Bobsleigh |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2006/Results/Bobsleigh.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612013222/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2006/Results/Bobsleigh.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-06-12 |work=Torino Organizing Committee |publisher=LA84 Foundation |date=March 2009 |access-date=7 July 2009 }}</ref>

By the time the bobsledders were given the opportunity to don their Fastskin suits, the line had already gone through several evolutions including the Fastskin FS-II and Fastskin FS-Pro. From the very beginning, these drag reducing suits were met with great resistance. At issue was [[FINA|Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)]] rule 10.7, which stated "No swimmer shall use any device that may aid his speed, buoyancy, or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins etc). Goggles may be worn".<ref name="FINA">{{cite web |url=http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=287:sw-10-the-race&catid=82:swimming-rules&Itemid=184 |title=SW 10 The Race |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) |work=Rules and Regulations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108080553/http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=287:sw-10-the-race&catid=82:swimming-rules&Itemid=184 |archive-date=8 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Early in 2000, Speedo hand-delivered their new Fastskin suits to 150 Olympic hopefuls and promised 6,000 more would be made available for Olympic trials. Fearing the possibility of Speedo-clad race winners being stripped of medals due to challenges, the [[Australian Olympic Committee]] (AOC) asked the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] to examine the legality of the FINA-sanctioned suits.<ref name="ABC1">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/features/fastskin.htm |title=Olympics Features – The Fastskin |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |work=ABC News Online |date=April 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511183541/http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/features/fastskin.htm |archive-date=11 May 2000 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In May that year, a CAS-appointed arbitrator backed the FINA ruling allowing use of the suits for Olympic tryouts. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, however, said in a press conference that their swimmers would be allowed to wear the futuristic neck to ankle covering suits, but would do so "at their own risk".<ref name=Independent>{{cite news |title= Bodysuits ruling still not resolved
|author= John Pye |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/bodysuits-ruling-still-not-resolved-717384.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101112003421/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/bodysuits-ruling-still-not-resolved-717384.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 12 November 2010|newspaper= The Independent|date= 2 May 2000|access-date=20 January 2011|location=London}}</ref> Coates later stated that the ruling he sought was whether the suits should be classified as costumes or devices.<ref name=Independent />

[[Professor Emeritus]] of [[Exercise physiology|Exercise]] and [[Nutritional science]]s at [[San Diego State University]], Brent S. Rushall claimed in a report sent to CAS that the suits were – by FINA's definition and based on manufacturer's claims – in fact devices, rather than costumes<ref name=Rushall>{{cite web |url=http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/swimming/bodysuit/CASsub.htm |title=A serious threat to the very nature of competitive swimming or not? |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=San Diego State University |author=Brent S. Rushall |date=April 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801124634/http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/swimming/bodysuit/CASsub.htm |archive-date=1 August 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and are therefore in violation of the FINA rule, which disallows equipment such as fins or flippers. In the report, Rushall equally criticises [[Adidas]] (who had a similarly designed bodysuit) and Speedo for giving FINA members ''[[Bribery|presents]]'' and declares that these members should recuse themselves from ruling on the legality of these suits.<ref name=Rushall />

Ultimately, the suits were approved for use in the Sydney Olympics and in December 2000 the super-suit earned a place on ''[[Popular Science]]'s'' "100 Best of What's New", alongside the [[US Navy]]'s [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|replacement]] and [[Eastman Kodak#Digital picture frames|Kodak's Smart]] [[Digital photo frame|Digital Picture Frame]] with built-in [[modem]].<ref name=popsci1>{{Google books|IyBQ4E9G0iQC|Popular Science|page=46}}</ref>

Four years later, the FSII debuted in the Athens summer games. While this next stage in swimwear evolution was quickly approved by FINA, it was not without controversy. Speedo competitor [[Tyr Sport, Inc.|TYR]] developed a similar full body suit with detached sleeves, which the company calls Aqua Bands. Both TYR's detached Aqua bands and Speedo FSII's attached sleeves are designed to essentially "grip" the water on the inner forearm. TYR maintained that essentially the only difference between their suit and Speedo's was whether the sleeves were attached. Despite this, FINA did not approve TYR's armbands.<ref name="TYR2">{{cite web |url=http://collegeswimming.com/news/2004/jun/8/tyr-appeals-ban-of-arm-bands/ |title=TYR Appeals Ban of Arm Bands |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Collegeswimming.com, LLC |work=CollegeSwimming.com}}</ref> In 2004, 47 medals were won by swimmers wearing Fastskin II.{{citation needed|date=April 2011}}

In late 2011, in time for the holiday season, Speedo introduced a new Fastskin3 suit. This suit comes in two styles, Elite and Super Elite. Speedo developed the Fastskin3 as a racing "system", consisting of a newly introduced cap, goggles, and competition suit. Michael Phelps is the principal advertiser for the Fastskin3 line of suits, as Ryan Lochte has been reported to prefer the older Fastskin LZR Elite suits. In succession to the LZR Pro and Elite, Speedo switched the branding for their technical suits from "Fastskin LZR Racer" to "Fastskin", continuing the trend they left off in 2008 when they debuted the LZR Racer. The male suit is available as a normal-cut suit and a high-waisted suit that utilises the space in between the belly button and waist of the male swimmer. The core of Speedo's advertising campaign for the new line touted the benefits of "becoming one" with the suit. Speedo advertises up to 16.6% drag reduction and 11% improved oxygen economy. The system was sold featuring "fit point markers", allowing the swimmer to line up the suit, cap, and goggles to achieve an ideal fit and appearance. FINA approved this suit shortly after it was launched, and the suit was anticipated to be used at the London 2012 Olympics by a majority of athletes, along with the [[Arena (swimwear)|Arena]] PowerSkin Carbon Pro suit, which debuted in early 2012. However, a series of high-profile seam failures<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/photos-of-adrians-suit-rip-nsfw/|title=Nathan Adrian Bares All (NSFW Photos)|date=2012-03-30|website=SwimSwam|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}</ref> and high costs for poor performance gain meant that the suit was a commercial failure. Most swimmers, including Phelps, ended up using a revamped version of the LZR Elite. The cap and a cut-down version of the "Super Elite" goggles are still sold today.

As of the Rio 2016 Olympics, Speedo's lineup of suits consisted of its flagship "LZR Racer X", known for an "x" pattern of silver kinetic taping; a second generation Elite dubbed the "LZR Elite 2"; and an entry-level "LZR Pro". The LZR X performed slightly better than the FS3 in terms of swimmer preference, but Speedo failed to capture much attention at the Games as [[Mizuno Corporation|Mizuno]], a Japanese manufacturer, had introduced a new suit (the "GX-Sonic III") designed to circumvent the FINA regulations and aid the swimmer in new ways. Specifically, the Mizuno suit comes in two variants: a sprinter ("ST") variant with stiff taping on the inside of the suit along the hamstrings, designed to help the upbeat of a kick at the end of a race as a swimmer's energy fades, while the multi-racer ("MR") uses two layers of the FINA-approved textile to decrease air permeability drastically, thereby trapping considerable excess air and making a swimmer more buoyant just like with the original LZR Racer (see below). Not much marketing material has appeared in the West, as the GX-Sonic has only been primarily aimed at the small Japanese market and required special importing internationally, so there are no numerical performance claims available, but many unsigned standout swimmers like [[Joseph Schooling]] (since signed by Speedo), [[Caeleb Dressel]] (since signed by Speedo), and [[Anthony Ervin]] (signed by Finis but allowed to choose his own suit) chose to wear the Mizuno suit over any of Speedo's offerings and won many golds in that suit. Additionally, the de facto trademark appearance of some collegiate teams like the [[Texas Longhorns swimming and diving|Texas Longhorns]] at the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] National Championships is in Mizuno now, as opposed to Speedo.

To combat the rapid uprise of choosing Mizuno among high-performing swimmers, Speedo released a new lineup of suits in 2019, in advance of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Dubbed the "LZR PURE" collection, the lineup consists of two suits: a new high-end LZR Pure Intent, designed to replace the LZR Racer X, borrowing many technologies like hamstring taping from Mizuno's suits, and intended to compete with Mizuno's ST variant of their GX-Sonic series; and a flexible LZR Pure Valor, designed to replace the LZR Elite 2 and compete with the dual-layered MR variant of the GX-Sonic series. Speedo has also released new goggles and a rebranded FS3 cap to go along with the launch.

==== LZR Racer ====
{{Main|LZR Racer}}
[[File:NASA LZR Racer.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[NASA]] computer image used in development of the Speedo LZR Racer]]
Speedo's most controversial move came with 2008's unveiling of the LZR (pronounced "[[laser]]") Racer. The super smooth suit, which was optimised with the help of NASA [[wind tunnel]]s, uses welded seams and multiple woven fabrics to reduce drag by up to six per cent.<ref name=Fastskin2 /> In addition, the LZR, like the Fastskin, utilises a core stabiliser, which acts almost as a [[girdle]], to reduce muscle movement. This was designed to help the swimmer maintain the proper angle in the water for longer periods of time.<ref name=Fastskin2 /><ref name=economist1 /> ''[[Popular Science]]'' magazine named the suit one of their "100 Best of What's New '08" list, calling it "The fastest swimsuit in the world".<ref name="popsci">{{cite web |url=http://www.popsci.com/bown/2008/product/speedo-lzr |title=Best of What's New '08 |access-date=18 January 2011 |publisher=Bonnier Corporation |work=Popular Science |date=November 2008}}</ref> Subsequent research revealed another reason for the suit's success: tiny air bubbles tended to be trapped between the swimmer's body and the suit, lifting the swimmer slightly so that they benefited from lower friction against air as compared to water.<ref name="Distillations"/>

Speedo's website boasts that the LZR Racer was "so fast, it was banned from competition".<ref name=LZR1>{{cite web |url=http://explore.speedousa.com/lzr-racer-collection/ |title=LZR Racer Collection |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo USA |work=Explore Speedo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218090320/http://explore.speedousa.com/lzr-racer-collection/ |archive-date=18 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Indeed, the LZR Racer was banned from international competition by FINA in 2009, along with all full-body polyurethane suits. Men's suits were also banned from extending above the waist or below the knee. Women's suits could not extend past the shoulders or go below the knee.<ref name="Distillations"/> 
However, by that time, swimmers wearing the suit had already broken at least 46 world records.<ref name=economist1>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2008/08/08/making-waves-in-beijing |title=Tech view: Making waves in Beijing |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=The Economist Newspaper Limited |newspaper=The Economist |date=August 2008}}</ref>

FINA's ban on the LZR Racer and all "hi-tech" suits came shortly before Michael Phelps's 200 meter freestyle loss to [[Germany]]'s [[Paul Biedermann]] at the 2009 [[FINA World Aquatics Championships]] in Rome, Italy. Wearing [[Arena (swimwear)|Arena's]] [[polyurethane]] [[Arena X-Glide|X-Glide]] suit, Biedermann broke two world records that day<ref name="msnbc">{{cite web |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/29/2013052.aspx |title=The science behind the swimsuit war |author=Alan Boyle |date=29 July 2009 |access-date=29 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731011438/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/29/2013052.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> and beat Phelps by more than one second.<ref name=omega>{{cite web|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Roma2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_110_Finals_1_Men_200_Free.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806180605/http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Roma2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_110_Finals_1_Men_200_Free.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2009|title=2009 World Championships – 200&nbsp;m freestyle results (final)|publisher=Omega Timing|access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref> Even though FINA had already approved the ban, it had not been scheduled to go into effect until the following spring. The delay in FINA's hi-tech prohibition and Phelps's unexpected second-place finish (his first loss since 2005) led Phelps's coach [[Bob Bowman (coach)|Bob Bowman]] to threaten a boycott of international swim competitions.<ref name=bowman1>{{cite web |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32190711/ns/sports-olympic_sports/ |title=Coach Threatens to pull Phelps out of meets |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Associated Press |work=NBC Sports |date=July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529214036/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32190711/ns/sports-olympic_sports/ |archive-date=29 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the first three days of the eight-day competition, 15 world records were set.<ref name=bowman1 />

{{rquote|left|I'm done with this. It has to be implemented immediately. The sport is in shambles right now and they better do something or they're going to lose their guy who fills these seats.

That would be my recommendation to him, to not swim internationally... The mess needs to be stopped right now. This can't go on any further.
|Bob Bowman|''Associated Press''}}

The vague decision by swimming's governing body stated that suit materials would need to be textile, rather than [[polymer]]-based, but offered no specific deadline for this changeover to occur.
<ref name=LA1>{{cite news
  | last = Dillman
  | first = Lisa
  | title = FINA Ruling – FINA's ruling doesn't clear things up much
  | newspaper = Los Angeles Times
  | date = 29 July 2009
  | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-29-sp-fina-world-swimming29-story.html
  | access-date =21 January 2011}}</ref> The reason for the delay, FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu told the [[Associated Press|AP]], is to give manufacturers enough time "to pass from polyurethane to textiles".<ref name=bowman1 /> The ambiguity continued when FINA was unable to define textile.<ref name=LA1 /> The most specific aspect of the ruling returned men to bare chests and ladies to bare shoulders.<ref name="LA2">{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/07/fina-michael-phelps-speedo-lzr-razer.html |title=FINA and the Speedo LZR Racer:slippery suit, slippery slope |access-date=21 January 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Adam Tschorn |date=July 2009}}</ref> The current rule (GR 5.4), as posted on FINA's website, states "Before any swimwear of new design, construction or material is used in competition, the manufacturer of such swimwear must submit the swimwear to FINA and obtain approval of FINA".<ref name="FINA2">{{cite web |url=http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259:gr-5-swimwear&catid=80:general-rules&Itemid=184 |title=Rules & Regulations |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) |work=fina.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108062602/http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259:gr-5-swimwear&catid=80:general-rules&Itemid=184 |archive-date=8 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Speedo's latest version of the LZR Racer series, the LZR Racer Elite, carries the FINA stamp of approval. The Elite series, like its predecessor utilises welded seams and compression material to sculpt the swimmer's body.<ref name=LZR1 /> The SpeedoUSA website specifically denies the new generation of LZR Racers is a "quick fix".<ref name=LZR1 /> The most recent list of FINA approved swimsuits, which was published in January 2011 lists 78 specific Speedo brand swimsuits among 45 worldwide brands and nearly 720 models. Among them, 71 are Fastskin models and 13 are LZR series suits.<ref name="FINA2a">{{cite web |url=http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=917&Itemid=461 |title=FINA Approved Swimsuits |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Natation |work=FINA.org |date=January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106101514/http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=917&Itemid=461 |archive-date=6 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Several Speedo designs have been removed from the FINA list including the original LZR Racer, and multiple Fastskin models.<ref name=FAQ />

FINA's ban on LZR Racers left Speedo with a significant surplus stock. The obsolete competition suits have found new life, though. London's [[Chelsea College of Art and Design]] received a donation of 600 suits,<ref name="chelsea3">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.arts.ac.uk/chelsea/2010/07/01/chelsea-xpo-pavilion-story-of-4000-pcs-of-swimming-suits/ |title=Chelsea Xpo Pavilion – Story of 4000 pcs of swimming suits |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=inhabitat.com |work=Inhabitat |author=Bridgette Meinhold |date=July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017145602/http://blogs.arts.ac.uk/chelsea/2010/07/01/chelsea-xpo-pavilion-story-of-4000-pcs-of-swimming-suits/ |archive-date=17 October 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 200 of which were turned into the Chelsea Xpo Pavilion as part of the 2010 [[London Festival of Architecture]] project.<ref name="chelsea">{{cite web|url=http://www.lfa2010.org/event.php?id=597&name=chelsea_xpo_pavilion_story_of_4000_pcs_of_swimming_suits |title=Chelsea Xpo Pavilion – Story of 4000 pcs of swimming suits |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=London Festival of Architecture 2010 |work=lfa2010.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622073458/http://www.lfa2010.org/event.php?id=597&name=chelsea_xpo_pavilion_story_of_4000_pcs_of_swimming_suits |archive-date=22 June 2010 }}</ref> The pavilion can be seen on the college's campus at the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground.<ref name="chelsea2">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chelsea.arts.ac.uk/snapshot/2010/07/01/chelsea-xpo-pavilion-story-of-4000-pcs-of-swimming-suits/ |title=Chelsea Xpo Pavilion – Story of 4000 pcs of swimming suits |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Chelsea College of Art & Design |work=Chelsea Snapshot |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301033944/http://blogs.chelsea.arts.ac.uk/snapshot/2010/07/01/chelsea-xpo-pavilion-story-of-4000-pcs-of-swimming-suits/ |archive-date=1 March 2011 }}</ref>

Another collaboration between Speedo and [[academia]] netted a line of designer fashions. Teams of students from the [[London College of Fashion]], [[University College Falmouth]] and the [[University of Huddersfield]] have reused the material to create a complete fashion line including casual slacks, jackets, and even different forms of swimwear.<ref name=robinson>{{cite press release|title= Creative collaborations to recycle the now surplus Speedo LZR racer suit|url= http://newsroom.speedo.com/speedo-news/creative-collaborations-to-recycle-the-now-surplus-speedo-lzr-racer-suit/|publisher= Speedo|date= 13 December 2010|access-date= 22 January 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110219070958/http://newsroom.speedo.com/speedo-news/creative-collaborations-to-recycle-the-now-surplus-speedo-lzr-racer-suit/|archive-date= 19 February 2011|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

This was not the company's first foray into recycled high fashion, though. In September 2010, [[sustainable fashion]] label, ''[[From Somewhere]]'' announced a new line of dresses made from Speedo's surplus.<ref name=somewhere>{{cite news   | last = Goldwert  | first = Lindsey  | title = Pool wear: Banned Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits to live again as recycled fashion  | newspaper = New York Daily News  | publisher = Mortimer Zuckerman  | date = 22 September 2010  | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2010/09/22/2010-09-22_banned_speedo_lzr_racer_swimsuits_to_live_again_as_recycled_fashion.html  | access-date =21 January 2011}}</ref><ref name=somewhere2>{{cite press release |title= Speedo collaborates with award winning sustainable fashion label, From Somewhere |url= http://www.speedo.com/en/speedo_brand/swimming_news/newsroom/swimming_news_3328.html |publisher= Speedo |date= 17 September 2010 |access-date= 22 January 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101002054851/http://www.speedo.com/en/speedo_brand/swimming_news/newsroom/swimming_news_3328.html |archive-date= 2 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

== Online resources ==
=== YouTube channel ===
Speedo started its [[YouTube]] channel dedicated to Speedo and its products specifically in the context of "life in and around the water" on 2 March 2007.<ref name="SIaboutYT11Jul2021">Speedo International. [https://www.youtube.com/Speedo/about "Speedo International - About"]. ''[[YouTube]]''. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref> One of the initial videos was aimed at journalists and providing them with a literal and virtual feel for what the athletes wearing the LZR Racer at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] felt by letting members of the media try the suits on in person in Beijing and sharing that experience virtually via YouTube.<ref name="SI7Aug2008">Speedo International (7 August 2008). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMPoVSG8eM8 "Beijing Media Swim"]. ''[[YouTube]]''. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref> For swimmers, videos posted cover a wide range of topics including swimming technique overviews and breaking down the process of designing and making swimwear.<ref name="SI24Jul2014">Speedo International (24 July 2014). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SONx52cyltI "Nathan Adrian | Freestyle Stroke - Swim Technique"]. ''[[YouTube]]''. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref><ref name="SI9Aug2016">Speedo International (9 August 2016). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAD7Yslp3To "Meet the swimmers who product test Speedo Fastskin"]. ''[[YouTube]]''. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref> Speedo's channel also features high profile athletes at different points of their journey as a professional swimmer such as at the end of a World Championships.<ref name="SI1Aug2011">Speedo International (1 August 2011). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WGK3MOwvQ8 "Goodbye from Shanghai World Championships, Speedo"]. ''[[YouTube]]''. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref>

== Sponsorships ==

=== Olympic Committees ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!  Team !! Nation !! Expires !! Ref
|-
| [[Olympic Committee of Israel]] || Israel || N/A ||<ref name="ISR">{{cite web |url=http://www.isa.one.co.il/ISA/Links.aspx?more=1 |script-title=he:השחייה בישראל |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=השחייה בישראל |language=he |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721140213/http://www.isa.one.co.il/ISA/Links.aspx?more=1 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|}

=== National teams ===
Speedo is the sponsor of several national swim teams.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!  Team !! Nation !! Expires !! Ref
|-
|-
|-
| [[Swimming Canada]] || Canada|| N/A||<ref name="CAN">{{cite web |url=https://www.swimming.ca/ourpartners |title=Our Partners |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Swimming Canada |work=Swimming.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721225705/https://www.swimming.ca/ourpartners |archive-date=21 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| Diving Plongeon Canada || Canada || N/A ||<ref name="Canada2">{{cite web |url=http://www.diving.ca/english/html/home.htm |title=Sponsors |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Diving Plongeon Canada |work=Diving.ca |archive-date=6 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706175924/http://www.diving.ca/english/html/home.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| Synchro Canada || Canada || N/A ||<ref name="Canada3">{{cite web |url=http://www.synchro.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&id=73&Itemid=44 |title=Sponsors |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Synchro Canada |work=Synchro.ca}}</ref>
|-
| Canadian Water Polo Association || Canada || N/A  ||<ref name="Canada4">{{cite web |url=https://www.waterpolo.ca/ |title=Water Polo Canada |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Canadian Water Polo Association |work=Waterpolo.ca}}</ref>
|-
| Colombian Federation of Swimming || Colombia || N/A ||<ref name="colombia">{{cite web |url=http://www.fecna.com/ |title=FECNA |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=La Federación Colombiana de Natación |work=fecna.com |language=es}}</ref>
|-
| [[Finnish Swimming Association]] || Finland || N/A||<ref name="FIN">{{cite web |url=http://www.uimaliitto.fi/ |title=Suomen Uimaliitto |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Suomen Uimaliitto |work=Uimaliitto.fi |language=fi}}</ref>
|-
| Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association || Hong Kong || N/A ||<ref name="HK">{{cite web |url=http://www.hkasa.org.hk/?LANG=ENG |title=Special thanks to the sponsors in supporting our events |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association |work=HKASA.org |language=es}}</ref>
|-
| [[Icelandic Swimming Association]] || Iceland || 2012 ||<ref name=Ice>{{cite press release|title=Samstarssamningur við Speedo |publisher=Icelandic Swimming Association |date=9 September 2009 |url=http://www.sundsamband.is/servlet/IBMainServlet/...%3C/spa?nwr_more1714=1851&iw_language=is_IS&ib_page=119 |language=is |trans-title=Cooperation Agreement with Speedo |access-date=22 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722022704/http://www.sundsamband.is/servlet/IBMainServlet/...%3C/spa?nwr_more1714=1851&iw_language=is_IS&ib_page=119 |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Israel Swimming Association]] || Israel || N/A ||<ref name="ISR" />
|-
| [[Japan Swimming Federation]] || Japan || N/A||<ref name="Jap">{{cite web |url=http://www.swim.or.jp/index.html |title=Support for Japanese national swimming caps swimwear suppliers |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Japan Swimming Federation |work=Japan Swim 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202172538/http://www.swim.or.jp/index.html |archive-date=2 February 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| Mexican Swimming Federation || Mexico|| N/A||<ref name="MX">{{cite web |url=http://www.fmn.org.mx/index.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613043236/http://www.fmn.org.mx/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2009 |title=FMN |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Federacion Mexicana de Natacion A.C. |work=FMN.org |language=es |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| Romanian Water Polo Association || Romania || N/A||<ref name="Romania">{{cite web |url=http://www.frpolo.ro/page.aspx?pageid=8 |title=Sponsori şi parteneri |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Federatia Romana de Polo |language=ro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310033058/http://frpolo.ro/page.aspx?pageid=8 |archive-date=10 March 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| [[Royal Spanish Swimming Federation]]|| Spain || 2014 ||<ref name=Spain>{{cite press release |title= Speedo firma con la Federación Española de Natación |publisher= Speedo International Limited |date= 23 February 2010 |url=http://www.speedo.es/es/swimming_news/newsroom/swimming_news_385.html |language= es|trans-title=Spanish Swimming Federation signs with Speedo |access-date=22 January 2011 }}</ref>
|-
| [[British Swimming (organisation)|British Swimming]]|| United Kingdom ||2016||<ref name="BritSwim">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/speedo_makes_a_splash_with_british_swimming/ |title=Speedo makes a splash with British Swimming |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=SportsProMedia Ltd. |work=SportsPro |author=Adam Fraser |date=March 2009}}</ref>
|-
|}

Speedo also offers sponsorships to some High School and College ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]], [[Junior college]]) Leagues as well as non-profit recreation leagues such as [[YMCA]] and [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Clubs]].<ref name=pureblue>{{cite press release|title=Promotional Discount Structure Summary |publisher=Speedo, Pure Blue Swimming |url=http://www.pureblueswim.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/2010%20speedo-pure%20blue%20promo%20discount%20summary%20for%20all%20groups.pdf |access-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303124303/http://www.pureblueswim.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/2010%20speedo-pure%20blue%20promo%20discount%20summary%20for%20all%20groups.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2012 }}</ref>

== Sponsored athletes ==
In addition to team and league sponsorships, these are the several celebrity athletes that are currently being sponsored by Speedo.<ref name="athletes">{{cite web |url=http://www.speedo.com/en/speedo_brand/swim_athletes/ourathletes/swim_athletes_2/index.html |title=Our Athletes |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Speedo International |work=speedo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119130026/http://www.speedo.com/en/speedo_brand/swim_athletes/ourathletes/swim_athletes_2/index.html |archive-date=19 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Country
! Name !! Discipline
|-
| France
|[[Fabien Gilot|Gilot, Fabien]]|| Freestyle
|-
|Belgium
|[[Pieter Timmers|Timmers, Pieter]]
|Freestyle
|-
|Denmark
|[[Pernille Blume|Blume, Pernille]]
|Freestyle
|-
|South Korea
|[[Seo-yeong Kim|Kim, Seo-yeong]]
|Individual Medley
|-
|Ukraine
|[[Mykhailo Romanchuk|Romanchuk, Mykhailo]]
|Freestyle
|-
|China
|[[Zhuhao Li|Li, Zhuhao]]
|Butterfly
|-
|China
|[[Zibei Yan|Yan, Zibei]]
|Breaststroke
|-
|China
|[[Shiwen Ye|Ye, Shiwen]]
|Individual Medley
|-
|China
|[[Menghui Zhu|Zhu, Menghui]]
|Freestyle
|-
|China
|[[Yaxin Liu|Liu, Yaxin]]
|Backstroke
|-
|Canada
|[[Markus Thormeyer|Thormeyer, Markus]]
|Backstroke, Freestyle
|-
|Russia
|[[Anton Chupkov|Chupkov, Anton]]
|Breaststroke
|-
|United Kingdom
|[[Freya Anderson|Anderson, Freya]]
|Freestyle
|-
|United Kingdom
|[[Thomas Dean (swimmer)|Dean, Thomas]]
|Medley, Freestyle
|-
| Netherlands
|[[Femke Heemskerk|Heemskerk, Femke]]|| Freestyle
|-
|Russia
|[[Yuliya Efimova|Efimova, Yuliya]]
|Breaststroke
|-
|Italy
|[[Filippo Magnini|Magnini, Filippo]]|| Freestyle
|-
|United States
|[[Missy Franklin|Franklin, Missy]]|| Backstroke
|-
|United States
|[[Katie Meili|Meili, Katie]]|| Breaststroke
|-
|Canada
|[[Kylie Masse|Masse, Kylie]]|| Backstroke
|-
|United States
|[[Kevin Cordes|Cordes, Kevin]]|| Breaststroke
|-
|Australia
|[[Mack Horton|Horton, Mack]]|| Freestyle
|-
|United States
|[[Cullen Jones|Jones, Cullen]]|| Freestyle
|-
|United States
|[[Nathan Adrian|Adrian, Nathan]]|| Freestyle
|-
|Australia
|[[Jake Packard|Packard, Jake]]
|Breaststroke
|-
|United States
|[[Elizabeth Beisel|Beisel, Elizabeth]]|| Individual Medley
|-
|United Kingdom
|[[Siobhan-Marie O'Connor|O'Connor, Siobhan-Marie]]|| Individual Medley
|-
|Australia
|[[Matthew Wilson (swimmer)|Wilson, Matthew]]
|Breaststroke
|-
|Australia
|[[Elijah Winnington|Winnington, Elijah]]
|Freestyle
|-
|Australia
|[[Brianna Throssell|Throssell, Brianna]]
|Butterfly, Freestyle
|-
|Australia
|[[Clyde Lewis|Lewis, Clyde]]
|Individual Medley, Freestyle
|-
|Australia
|[[David McKeon|McKeon, David]]
|Freestyle
|-
|Australia
|[[Kaylee McKeown|McKeown, Kaylee]]
|Backstroke
|-
|Australia
|[[Minna Atherton|Atherton, Minna]]
|Backstroke
|-
|Australia
|[[Ariarne Titmus|Titmus, Ariarne]]
|Freestyle
|-
|United Kingdom
|[[Duncan Scott (swimmer)|Scott, Duncan]]|| Freestyle
|-
|Australia
|[[Emma McKeon|McKeon, Emma]]|| Butterfly, Freestyle
|-
|Denmark
|[[Pernille Blume|Blume, Pernille]]|| Freestyle
|-
|United Kingdom
|[[Jazz Carlin|Carlin, Jazz]]|| Freestyle
|-
|Spain
|[[Mireia Belmonte|Belmonte Garcia, Mireia]]|| Butterfly, Freestyle, Individual Medley
|-
|United States
|[[Ryan Murphy (swimmer)|Murphy, Ryan]]|| Backstroke
|-
|United States
|[[Hali Flickinger|Flickinger, Hali]]|| Butterfly, Individual Medley
|-
|United States
|[[Caeleb Dressel|Dressel, Caeleb]]|| Butterfly, Freestyle, Individual Medley
|-
|United States
|[[Cody Miller|Miller, Cody]]|| Breaststroke
|-
|United States
|[[David Curtiss (swimmer)|Curtiss, David]]|| Freestyle
|-
|United Kingdom
|[[Adam Peaty|Peaty, Adam]]|| Breaststroke
|-
|Australia
|[[Cody Simpson|Simpson, Cody]]|| Butterfly
|}

== See also ==

{{Portal|Companies|Fashion|Australia|}}

*[[High-technology swimwear fabric]]
*[[List of generic and genericised trademarks]]
*[[List of swimwear brands]]
*[[Tyr Sport, Inc.]] – Speedo's chief American competitor in the performance swimwear market.
*[[Warnaco Group]] – Speedo's exclusive North American licensee

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{official website|https://www.speedo.com|name=Speedo International Limited}}

{{Competitive swimwear}}
{{Sports equipment brands}}

[[Category:Speedo| ]]
[[Category:Clothing brands of Australia]]
[[Category:Clothing brands of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Australian companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Clothing companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Nottingham]]
[[Category:PVH (company) clothing brands]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001]]
[[Category:Sporting goods brands]]
[[Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of Australia]]
[[Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sportswear brands]]
[[Category:Swimwear manufacturers]]
[[Category:Water polo equipment manufacturers]]
[[Category:Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies]]