Bodyskin

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A Bodyskin is a style of competitive swimwear worn by both female and male athletes. Bodyskins are normally made of technologically advanced lycra-based fabrics designed to hug the body tightly and provide increased speed and decreased drag resistance in the water.

The bodyskin resembles the design of a diveskin, commonly used by snorkelers and scuba divers for warm weather climates. The primary distinguishing feature is the material from which the bodyskin suit is made.

Suits of this type provide full body coverage from the ankles to the neck and wrists, though some sleeveless designs also exist. Swimsuit manufacturer Speedo also produces a bodyskin designed specifically for the backstroke.

As with most technologically advanced fabric swimwear, bodyskin suits are only commonly used at highly competitive levels of the swimming sport and are known to sell for prices in excess of US$400. Most competitive swimwear manufacturers including Speedo, TYR, Adidas, and Arena have versions of a bodyskin suit.