Swimming:Bodysuits should not make a difference

High-tech bodysuits will not transform average swimmers into a gold medallists at this year's Beijing Olympics, according to Australian world champion Libby Trickett.

Trickett was responding to questions about German rival Britta Steffen's contention that bodysuits were making the sport like Formula One, where those with the best technology would win.

Steffen told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday she would prefer swimmers be forced to wear conventional suits rather than the Speedo LZR Racer <WRNC.O>, worn by Trickett, and those developed by Adidas <ADSG.DE>, which the German team use.

Swimmers using the Speedo suit have broken at least 35 world records since their introduction earlier this year.

Trickett, however, said the bodysuits should not make any difference.

"At the end of the day the equipment doesn't make the person a better swimmer," Trickett told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

"An average swimmer is not going to break a world record in a LZR Racer."

"At the end of the day it's what people are comfortable in. I think that's what makes an equal playing ground."

Swimming's international governing body FINA has approved the Speedo suits for use, without any independent testing, insisting the materials used were legal and did not give swimmers an unfair advantage.

German manufacturer Adidas has tested prototypes of its own bodysuit, Steffen said on Wednesday, and she felt comfortable they would be able to match the Speedo-clad swimmers when the Games open on Aug. 8.