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1910s
The Origins
Speedo originated in 1914 under the brand name ‘Fortitude’, which was taken from the motto on the clan MacRae crest.
1920s
Creating a classic
1929 Swedish swimmer Arne Borg sets a world record in Speedo swimwear, establishing the brand in the hearts and minds of swimmers and the general public.
MacRae introduces the classic, figure-hugging ‘Racerback’ costume, the world’s first non-wool suit. The ‘Racerback’ allows greater freedom of movement, allowing wearers to swim faster.
In 1928 a staff named Jim Parsons wins a competition to name the new swimwear with his entry "Speedo on in your Speedos". The Speedo name is born. The company then changes its name to Speedo Knitting Mills and the first Speedo swimsuits are produced.
1929 Swedish swimmer Arne Borg sets a world record in Speedo swimwear, establishing the brand in the hearts and minds of swimmers and the general public.
1930s
Style & Performance
Swimwear fashions changed constantly throughout the 30’s, and Speedo products began to make headlines for their style and performance.
1940s
War & a 2-Piece
During World War II, over 90% of Speedo’s manufacturing output is given to the war effort. Goods it makes include knitwear, underwear, mosquito nets and signal flags.
After the War in 1947, Speedo opens a new factory to cope with increased demand for swimsuits - spearheaded by the bikini.
Speedo continues to dominate competitive swimming, with an increasing number of athletes choosing to endorse the Speedo brand.
1950s
Shore to Shore Expansion
The foundations for expansion were laid in 1951 when Speedo Knitting Mills (Holdings) Ltd was incorporated and became a publicly traded company on the Sydney Stock exchange.
Speedo’s commitment to the lifesaving fraternity leads to the creation of the first Speedo watershort.
Speedo’s sponsorship of the entire Australian team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics transforms Speedo into a world famous brand. The team sweeps the board with 8 gold medals. 1957 sees Speedo launch a swimsuit in the new wonder fabric called Nylon.
Speedo begins exporting to the USA in 1959.
1960s
The Sky’s the Limit
The global growth of the brand continued during the 1960s. The Speedo (Europe) subsidiary was established in London, England.
The 1968 Mexico Olympics sees 27 of the 29 gold medalists wearing Speedo suits. 44 countries compete in Speedo swimwear, and 22 out of the 23 world records set at the Games go to swimmers wearing Speedo.
1970s
Ripple Effect
Speedo is the first company to start producing swimwear made of Nylon/Elastane – which is still the most popular swimwear fabric today.
At the 1972 Munich Olympics - 21 out of the 22 world records are broken by swimmers wearing Speedo, and 52 of 58 nations wear Speedo.
Speedo is the official swimwear licensee for the 1976 Montreal Olympics as 52 of 54 teams compete in Speedo.
1980s
Faster than the Wave
A historic agreement is signed between China and Speedo, providing the Chinese team with training and equipment, allowing them to return to Olympic competition after an absence of 40 years.
21 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze medals won by Speedo athletes at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
By now, the Speedo trademark is protected in 112 countries.
1990s
On the Shoulders of Giants
Speedo International Ltd a subsidiary of Pentland Group plc also took ownership of Speedo in this decade.
Speedo launches S2000 in 1992, offering 15% less drag than conventional swimwear fabric. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 53% of all swimming medals won are by swimmers competing in Speedo S2000.
Speedo launches Endurance in 1994, the world’s first chlorine resistant fabric.
1996 sees the launch of the Speedo AQUABLADE, featuring 8% lower surface resistance than S2000. 77% of all swimming medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics are won are by swimmers competing in Speedo AQUABLADE swimsuits. Technical Information History Technical Information.
2000s
Unleash Confidence
Speedo kicked off the 21st century in style, launching the Fastskin® swimsuit. Inspired by shark skin, it proves a hit with world-class athletes, including Michael Phelps.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics 13 of the 15 World Records and 83% of all swimming medals are won by swimmers competing in Speedo FASTSKIN swimsuits.
In 2004, Speedo launches FASTSKIN FSII swimsuit - an evolution of FASTSKIN. FASTSKIN FSII reduces passive drag by up to 4%.
Michael Phelps makes history at the 2004 Athens Olympics by becoming the first ever swimmer to win 8 medals at the Olympics (six gold, two bronze) wearing FASTSKIN FSII. More swimmers in Athens wear Speedo than all other brands combined.
Speedo joins forces with Amir Slama founder of Brazilian swimwear brand Rosa Cha to create a fashion collection in 2004.
2005 sees Speedo launch a new collaboration with international fashion label Comme des Garcons.
The legacy continues with the launch of Fastskin FS-PRO in 2007 - the fastest and most powerful lightweight suit on the market and 21 world records are broken within 6 months.
In 2008, Speedo launches LZR RACER®. The suit changes the face of swimming, and is famously worn by Michael Phelps as he wins 8 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. The next generation of performance swimwear inspired by the record-breaking Speedo LZR Racer suit arrives in 2009 - The Speedo LZR Racer Elite, LZR Racer Pro and LZR Racer Comp - catering for grass roots to elite athlete level and fully compliant with FINA 2010 regulations.
2010s
More to come
Speedo revolutionises women’s swimwear with the launch of Speedo Sculpture Shapeline in the UK. The body-shaping swimwear builds on the successful Speedo Sculpture range and provides the nearest thing to a made-to-measure swimsuit on the market .
Speedo’s fashion collaboration with From Somewhere, made using recycled Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits, is previewed at the Estethica ethical fashion exhibition at London Fashion Week.
2011 HRH The Princess Royal officially opens Speedo House, Speedo’s new global headquarters located at Nottingham’s premier business location, NG2 business park.
2012 Speedo introduces its latest swimwear innovation with the launch of the Speedo Fastskin Racing System® - a collection of caps, goggles and suits engineered to work together to achieve the ideal swimming form.
57% of all swimming medals are won by athletes wearing Speedo at the London 2012 Olympic Games. More swimmers in London wear Speedo than all other brands combined.
Michael Phelps wins his 22nd medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time. All of Michael’s Olympic medals between 2004 and 2012 – 18 of them gold - were won wearing Speedo.
2013 Speedo launches ‘Get Speedo Fit’, a new campaign aimed at helping people to reach their optimum fitness through swimming. The campaign features the launch of the Speedo Fit app in the UK, France and China, helping swimmers to set attainable fitness goals.
The latest addition to the Speedo Fastskin Racing System, the Speedo Fastskin LZR Racer Elite 2 is launched. The reconfigured suit offers 40% more durability in water repellent, together with a range of bright new colour.
2015 saw the launch of Speedo Fastskin® LZR Racer® X and with Speedo innovation and research into new materials along with incredible design makes this an exciting decade for swimming.
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