Supported by the brand’s leading athletes, Cesar Cielo, Michael Andrew and Allison Schmitt, the adizero XVI was unveiled at an exclusive event at the Muller’sches Volksbad in Munich.
adidas worked with biomechanics, physiologists, fabric and pattern experts, plus a global pool of elite 
athletes to create the game-changing adizero XVI, enabling swimmers to achieve their maximum speed. The ground-breaking technology features three advancements; energy optimisation (X-TRA ENERGY), intelligent materials (X-TRA FLOW) and a stroke-specific biometric fit (X-TRA FIT).
X-TRA ENERGY: The adizero XVI works to optimise the swimmer’s energy, focusing it on propelling 
them through the water faster. The suit’s fabric, innovative bands and compressive fit work together to support the swimmer’s Kinetic Chain; the body’s series of interlocking joints, where one movement facilitates the next. The pioneering tape material offers 100% recovery, ensuring the swimmer’s expended energy is returned to optimise subsequent movements, for example pushing off the starting block.
X-TRA FLOW: Intelligent material and lightweight construction guarantee enhanced body position in the water. Strategically placed texturing of the fabric, the result of extensive wind tunnel testing, pushes water more smoothly over the swimmer’s body in the right direction so it doesn’t create as much turbulence.
X-TRA FIT: In an industry first, the adizero XVI offers bespoke design for the unique movements of different swimming strokes. Stroke-specific moderations ensure a precision fit, facilitating athletes’ transition through the water. For example, to cater for the unique kick of the breaststroke, adidas bands shaped to support the “insweep” phase, ensure free, non-restricted and supportive movement.
“Elite swimmers know that to create their best race, every millisecond counts. Correct body positioning, water flow and a smooth aerodynamic fit all combine to make the difference between a medal on the world’s stage and disappointment”, said Deborah Yeomans, Director Future for adidas. “With the adizero XVI we have deconstructed the swimsuit status quo and rebuilt it to optimise the natural movement of the human body. We look forward to seeing the swimsuit propel our athletes onto the podium this summer.”
Demonstrating the benefits of the adizero XVI at the Muller’sches Volksbad in Munich were adidas elite swimmers: Cesar Cielo, Michael Andrew, Allison Schmitt, Fernanda Gonzalez, Coralie Balmy, Chris Walker-Hebborn and recently signed Kyle Chalmers, who took part in a high speed relay alongside young competitors of the future.
“I believe swimming is one of the most physically demanding sports, given that it uses every muscle in the body in a different way” said Olympic Gold medallist Cesar Cielo. “When I put on the adizero XVI I can instantly feel that the suit gives me the extra edge.”
The adizero XVI, available for men and women will be on sale from February 2016 at adidasswim.com and selected speciality retail partners around the world.
Additional photos from the launch event can be viewed here.
Product launch news courtesy of adidas Swim, a SwimSwam Partner.
Last time I checked he was 16, but who’s counting! Personally, I’m glad to see swimmers being able to make money from the sport.
Michael Andrew the type of kid that’ll “well, actually…” your pronunciation of “Adidas.”
Andrew literally says the suit makes him feel higher in the water when he wears it.
That was totally a thing that people went NUTS about with the rubber suits. Please, someone grab the torches and pitchforks.
(This suit’s even got the silly tape-looking stuff that Speedo’s new suit has, too. Because when I think “textile” I think gaudy ribbons of crap criss-crossing my butt!)
Silly tape looking stuff criss crossing LOL. Time to educate yourself. Guess we should have invited you to the launch amigo. Nothing silly about any of the materials on this suit.
Would an entire suit made out of that stuff be legal? This is an honest question.
It seems a somewhat similar precursor to what happened with the old rubber suits – Speedo put in panels of rubber on the first LZR, only taking up a certain percentage of the suit. Other companies realized it was beneficial to make the whole thing rubber and THEN the suits were an outrage and a scourge.
No sir Steve definitely not legal to use it more than it already is on the adidas suit. FINA has strict limits on the bonding sizes, but even so that bonding tape material has very little stretch to provide tremendous strength so you’d never get it over your ankles LOL —and if I mentioned what the actual material is I will be fired and sued for sure!
I need to improve without a tech suit first because I afraid i might put one of those on and still swim slow, then what?
I guess all suit makers now feel they have to one-up TYR to win the ugly suit contest.
Sounds like the tech. suits are back. Personally, I think this is not good for swimming.
I agree, although I really don’t think this suit is a huge step above the competition. With the material and design limits in place, I don’t think there’s a lot more the suit companies can do with textile.
My guess is that this won’t be a game changer in the pool, they just had to make it look cool so that kids will bug their parents about getting one.
However, despite my skepticism regarding its capabilities, this suit (along with many other suits by other brands) is being directly marketed as performance enhancing. I’m sure they’d say “performance optimizing” or some nonsense, but the fact is kids are being taught that they can’t go fast without this suit (or one… Read more »
They never left, man. Rubber suits were outlawed, yes. But those things were low tech as hell – get a bunch of polyurethane, make a suit. Ta da!
There’s a hell of a lot more research and development going into these suits…IMO, that makes them “tech” suits, ya know?
None of the complaints w/ the rubber suits ever got quashed. The materials just got switched and times got slower. Yaaay.
I didn’t see any statement about the suit being FINA approved and legal…
All versions FINA approved. Would be a huge waste of money, time and effort to launch a suit that isn’t approved.
But more importantly than any advantage this suit may or may not actually possess, it looks really cool.