The Japanese Swimming Federation is finally giving the green light to their Olympic swimmers to wear Speedo swimsuits in Beijing. The go-ahead follows months of raging bodysuit wars between Japanese swimsuit manufacturers and Britain's Speedo.
Japanese swimmers, Kosuke Kitajima (L) and Aya Terakawa (R) show off Mizuno's new swimsuit in Tokyo in April 2008. Three Japanese sportswear companies on Friday unveiled new swimsuits they hope will match Speedo's high-tech, record-breaking LZR Racer ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August. (AFP/File/Toshifumi Kitamura)
The Federation announced its decision after athletes broke one world record and 14 national records at the Japan Open. It was one of the first times that Japanese swimmers were allowed to wear the controversial Speedo LZR bodysuit in competition.
During the Open, Japan's double Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima protested the raging bodysuit debate, demanding athletes be given the right to choose what swimwear they want to use at this year's Beijing Games.
Kitajima, contracted to Japanese manufacturer Mizuno, underlined his point by setting a new national record of 59.44 seconds in the 100 metres breaststroke wearing Speedo's LZR bodysuit.
(CCTV June 12, 2008)