While a quarterback's pads won't make his throws more accurate and a point guard's shorts won't improve his jump shot, a swimmer's suit can make the difference in a race.
Over the last decade, Speedo has developed a new line of suits that improve performance, culminating in the February release of the LZR Racer.
But the LZR costs roughly five times its predecessor, and with technological progress has come concerns over equity.
"You hate to see someone get an advantage because of better economics," said Mike Schnur, the head coach of Penn's men's and women's swim teams.
"If one swimmer can afford a $500 suit and another can't, that's a shame for our sport."
Co-designed by NASA and the Australian Institute of Sport, the LZR (pronounced laser) creates small air bubbles which help maintain buoyancy. It is also seamless and fits tighter than its predecessors, the Fastskin, Fastskin 2 and Fastskin Pro.
That line, introduced in the early 2000s, was the first to use ultra-thin fabrics like nylon to provide extra buoyancy and minimal drag.
The LZR costs upwards of $500, while the Fastskins cost around $100 per suit.
"Only the national team gets [the LZR,]" Schnur said. "There was a controversy at this year's NCAAs about it, whether they were going to allow anyone to wear it because not everyone had access to it."
The NCAA will permit it for the upcoming year.
Penn, which has a contract with Speedo for discounted suits, buys new suits every year, Schnur said. So far the Quakers own Fastskin models and have received positive feedback from the swimmers.
Eventually, though, Penn will buy LZR suits, according to Schnur.
"These new suits are a big advantage," he said. "And we don't want to lose that."
In the two months since the LZR's release, over 35 new world records have been set by swimmers wearing it.
But Schnur was quick to point out that while he thinks the suit is a factor, records are going to be broken with the Beijing Olympics looming.
"Everyone swims better in an Olympic year," he said. "This was also the fastest college swimming year ever. It's because people are trying to make the Olympic team."
And Penn swimmers, too, were somewhat skeptical about the LZR.
"I'm opposed to the 'it really helps you' idea," sophomore Andrea Balint said. "I think it's more of a mental thing."
Classmate Sara Coenen added: "It's not going to cut seconds. The records came from people, not the suits, since the sport is getting faster."
Whether it's a placebo effect or not, Schnur did admit that the number of new world records is above average, even for an Olympic year. Schnur's colleagues agree, including U.S. Swim coach Mark Schubert.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see every world record broken at the [Olympic] games, and hopefully we'll get a big percentage of those," Schubert told the Associated Press.
While an extra $400 is negligible on an international scale, countries have a different problem: their exclusive contracts with swimsuit manufacturers.
Several national teams, including Italy and Germany, have long-term deals with companies other than Speedo. And while several rival companies have developed high-tech suits, most notably Nike and its LiftSuit, these national teams have a choice: stick with their contracts and the potentially slower suits, or risk heavy fines to wear the superior ones.
But even as the debate rages on over the LZR's potential role on the international stage, yet another competitor is already intent on stealing the spotlight. TYR Sports has just released its Tracer Rise suit, which, according to the company, enhances swimmer performance by four percent - double the two percent uptick Speedo claims that its LZR can provide.
"Everybody is looking for an edge," Schnur said, "for that next generation of technology."
