Siobhan Haughey’s Olympic rivals turn to ‘rocket suits’ in bid to win gold in Paris

Some of Siobhan Haughey’s rivals are banking on the latest cutting-edge swimsuits to be their secret weapon as they race for gold at the Paris Olympics.

Competitors believe innovation can be the difference in a sport where medals are sometimes decided by a mere fingertip, although the evidence is not so sure.

Driven by technology that takes inspiration from space travel, Speedo has produced a new version of its Fastskin LZR Racer suit billed as its most water-repellent ever.

Claiming to provide a sense of “weightlessness”, it will be worn by top swimmers including Emma McKeon from Australia, the American Caeleb Dressel and Britain’s Adam Peaty as they strive to shave every hundredth of a second off their times.

Haughey partners with Arena, with the manufacturer expected to unveil its technological advancements ahead of the Games.

“It’s my own little Speedo rocket suit,” said freestyle and butterfly ace Dressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in an earlier version of the suit. “I’m feeling confident that the [new] suit is going to help me.”