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The Netherlands' Speed Skating team revealed the secret formula which today led to a stunning three world record performances: wind tunnels and foam stripes.
Since the Lillehammer Olympics, the Dutch have been testing new suits and body positions in wind tunnels at the University of Delft, and they came up with silicon stripes which are on the head and lower legs of the body suits in order to reduce air turbulence around the body.
"We applied to the International Skating Union for permission three days ago, and we got the green light yesterday to use them (the stripes)," said coach Henke Gemsar, Netherlands's coach said. "The Canadians have also been using stripes, so it's no secret."
Gemsar said the new stripes add a "small fraction" of an advantage to his skaters.
Canadian team leader, Robert Bolduc, confirmed that his team uses stripes too, but that wind tunnel tests are more useful for helping athletes adjust their body positions to more aerodynamic forms.
"Body position of the skaters is what is decreasing friction, more than the suits," said Bolduc. "The stripes help a little bit, but more, it's a psychological advantage."
"If they think they can scare us (with new suits), they don't. We know that we have the best suits in the world," Bolduc claimed.