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Wetsuit
Rating
A wetsuit is a neoprene suit for swimming in cold open water that retains body heat and additionally increases buoyancy, helping to maintain a more horizontal and streamlined position in the water.
In detail
At most triathlons there is a temperature limit: above a certain water temperature, wetsuits are either prohibited or disqualify you from prize positions, since they provide a noticeable speed advantage due to buoyancy. Below a certain temperature, a wetsuit becomes mandatory for safety reasons (hypothermia).
How to use it
Before using a wetsuit for the first time in competition, be sure to practice swimming in it beforehand — the unfamiliar pressure on the chest and shoulders causes a feeling of panic or breathing constriction in some people.