Four years after U.S. Speedskating failed to medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics, with some public grumbling that the uniform suits contributed to the unexpectedly poor showing, Under Armour has unveiled an updated version for next month’s games that feature a new fabric and a daring asymmetrical seam.
The Mach 39 suits the U.S. Olympians wore in Sochi had a vent on the back of the suit, designed to let heat escape but some suspect permitted air to enter and slow the athlete by creating drag. Shani Davis, a pre-race medal favorite who finished eighth in the 1,000 meters, later called the suits “defective” althoughU.