IT LOOKS like a throw back to by gone days. The sort of swim costume good old Benny Hill squeezed into as part of a comedy sideshow. But the suit that Michelle Smith wears is no imitation of Victorian garb, rather the result of high tech research.

The Speedo Aquablade swimsuit is a serious business, and Smith, for one, attributes some of her phenomenal success in the Georgia Tech Aquatic Centre to the neck clinging, knee length outfit. Speedo claim the suit is faster in the water than human skin; Smith's feats are backing up the theory.

What is it? Well, the material consists of tightly knit polyester/polyurethane fibre, printed with vertical stripes made of smooth, water repellant resin. The stripes are, in turn, smooth and rough to the touch with water passing over them, helping to reduce drag and turbulence.

According to technological research, the water moves over the rough and smooth stripes at different speeds. When fast currents off the resin stripe hit slower currents, tiny spirals are created. Consequently, water speed increases and stays closer to the body longer, reducing drag.

The suit comes in three styles: standard, knee and ankle length. In Smith's case, she has chosen to use the kneelength version. The women's suits, up to the neck, have zips' on the shoulder rather than the customary back zip for a closer fit.

The Aquablade first came to prominence a little over two months ago when Germany's Mark Warnecke broke the world 50 metres breaststroke record.

Smith's startling breakthrough received timely support yesterday from Samuel Freas, president of FINA, the international swimming federation. "When I saw her in Florida - earlier this month, I predicted she would be the star of the Games," he said. "People suspect her vastly improved times because she is a woman, and 26 years old, but who can say for certain at what age development begins?

"Look at Sergei Bubka. Until he became a world class pole vaulter nobody realised he could also run 10.3 seconds for the 100m."