This is the "revolutionary striped fabric" that speeds water flow.Apparently, Olympic swimmers go in for downsizing. This claimed to lower the drag co-efficiency by covering more of the body and reducing air pockets, which in turn reduces resistance.The Aquablade hydrasuit is similar but does up with a zip on the left- hand shoulder, which makes it more snug on the back and increases speed.It is made of 80 per cent polyester and 20 per cent Elastene, and feels completely different from other Speedos - more rubbery. The first, also developed by Speedo and called the S2000, introduced the hydrasuit, which has a halter neck and a zip-up back. First, his stroke is backstroke (100 and 200 metres), and mine is breaststroke Second, I had never yet seen him in the go-faster stripes.

And, finally, he wears the skimpiest little bathing suit you have ever seen, thus relying heavily on human skin which, according to Speedo, is no match for the Aquablade.But the first test was getting into the "hydrasuit". The Aquablade comes in five styles: the Olympic Back, Aquablade leg suit and hydrasuit for women; and the hydroshort and brief for men.This is the second generation of fast suits. "As a result of Aquablade's revolutionary striped fabric, the swimmer cuts through the water as if on rails." A fish I have never been, so anything that could claim to increase my "glide time" by up to 200 per cent and my overall swimming speed by 8 per cent more than any other suit on the market had to be a good thing. It was time for me and the world's most technically advanced swimsuit to get together. The Aquablade has been developed by Speedo International - the fabric sourced in Japan, fitted in Nottingham and tested in Germany - and will be worn at next month's Atlanta Olympic Games by the British team, along with 44 other national teams.So to test it to the full, I decided to try it out against Martin Harris, a member of the British Atlanta '96 team, who trains at my local baths every morning.Admittedly, he would be at a technical disadvantage. Fraser Cooke's choiceNike Air Total Max: pounds 109.99 by all good sports shops from 3 July. Recommended by Paul Fox at JD Sports and David Lee, Cobra SportsPart of Ruth Shaw's collection: her trainer/shoe retails in Office for pounds 39.99.

Inquiries 0181 838 4344Adidas Galaxy, pounds 49.99, as recommended by Richard Wharton at Office shoesFeet on the street: the trainer market is worth pounds 850m in the UK alone (top five pictures); Nike Air Max (above) is changing hands for up to pounds 500 in Japan. Hence the brogue-style fake snakeskin and white patent trainer/shoe pictured here."I was trying to get away from the idea of a super hi-tech trainer by keeping the trainer style but flaunting convention by using unusual fabrics such as thick nylon, satin, towelling and hologram fabrics," says Shaw.She sees the future of fashion footwear in the marriage of trainers and traditional shoes.Footscape by Nike, pounds 79.99. Her shoes have bouncy UVA foam-moulded rubber soles with traditional shoe styles on the top. Her designs are already being sold in Office, due to an industry placement that was part of the course.Her collection is based on reconstructing the traditional idea of a training shoe, based on her belief that most young people go clubbing to keep fit. He also rates the ACG range by Nike and the new black and red Nike Air Footscapes, (the ones that lace up at the sides.)Ruth Shaw, graduating with a BA Hons in design marketing and product development in footwear and accessories from Cordwainers CollegeShaw specialised in fashion trainers for her graduation collection. He believes that nobody comes close to Nike in terms of design The ultimate trainer for him now would be the Jordan *11s.