The U.S. Rowing Team will be decked out in new apparel at the games in Rio. Boathouse Sports, the official outfitter of the team since 2009, will be supplying the team with new seamless unisuits designed specifically for rowers competing this summer. The unisuits are designed for better performance and mobility while also providing protection for the Rio climate, “The seamless construction and other innovations in the unisuit take it to another level of technology in performance wear,” said Mark Sunderland a Textile Engineer that partnered with Boathouse to create the suit. “There’s nothing else like this out there, we are setting a new standard of excellence in rowing wear.
The secret of the unisuits is that they are created using cutting-edge technology that blends the fibers together to create suits that “fit like a second skin”. They are also finished with an antimicrobial that creates an extra barrier between the athletes and the contaminated water in Rio.
The most technologically advanced unisuit yet #seamless #antimicrobial #nowaste #madeinusa https://t.co/icpmzalMpj pic.twitter.com/ySJjnb4rNw
— Boathouse Sports (@BoathouseSports) June 27, 2016
Additionaly, the unisuit stops athletes from being over heated or sweaty because the suit wicks the athletes’ sweat from inside the suit and vents body heat through mesh panels. An added bonus is that the suit is one of the most environmentally friendly of its kind. Each suit produces less than a gram of waste.
USRowing Chief of Marking Officer Beth Kohl is excited about the innovative partnership, “We’re excited to be part of this new direction in rowing gear and look forward to seeing our athletes in this new unisuit while training for the podium in Rio.”
These new suits are an improvement upon previous Olympics, which have been made of similar material but may not have been seamless or as fit for the climate of Rio. The team will also be outfitted with long sleeve training gear to prevent the contact of mosquitos that could be carrying the Zika virus.
There are lots of other innovations happening at the games, like virtual reality, new sports analytics, hi-tech eyewear for cyclists, technology and apps dedicated to minimizing Zika exposure and more. So add this unisuit from Boathouse Sports to the list and look for US Rowing athletes to be wearing it in Rio.