Australian Olympic sailors to sport eco-friendly wetsuits in 2024

The 2024 Australian Olympic sailing team will make waves by sporting the world's first high-performance, environmentally-friendly wetsuits, courtesy of Sydney-based business Zhik. These revolutionary wetsuits, made from sustainable, plant-based Yulex rubber, are set to decrease CO2 emissions by 80 percent as compared to conventional neoprene wetsuits.

Serving as one of the three official kit suppliers for the Australian Olympic team, alongside ASICS and Speedo, Zhik's innovative wetsuits also boast superior thermal insulation, comfort, and durability. The fabric is suffused with graphene – an avant-garde nanoscale 2D material that increases body heat retention by up to 20 percent. This feature ensures that wearers are kept warmer for longer periods, maintain stable temperatures during low-intensity activities, and benefit from an expedited drying process.

Sydney-based Zhik, known for its athletic sailing apparel, is making a splash as an official Olympic supplier for the second consecutive event. The local brand will be outfitting Australia's twelve Olympic sailors, including defending Olympians and upcoming stars, as they compete in Marseille in July 2024. Among the athletes donning Zhik's innovative gear include Matt Wearn, the defending Olympic Gold Medallist, 2012 Olympic Women's Match Racing Silver Medallist Olivia Price, Evie Haseldine and Grae Morris. Zhik is also providing all the technical on-water kit required for success across the eight sailing disciplines contested by the Australians.

Mat Belcher OAM, Zhik's CEO, as well as multiple Olympic gold medallist and a sailing champion in his own right, expressed his excitement. He said, "Zhik was proudly an Olympic supplier for the Australian sailing team for the Tokyo Games in 2020. That year, my teammate Will Ryan and I won gold wearing Zhik gear. From then to now, the range has evolved further, setting a new standard for eco-conscious water sports attire."

As a nod to the changing tides in Olympic sports, this is the first year that iQFoil and kiteboarding will be included in the lineup. Matt Carroll, the Australian Olympic Committee CEO, shared his perspective, citing that these disciplines require exceptionally durable equipment. "Olympians are competing at the highest level and cannot compromise on performance, but the AOC is equally committed to partnering with suppliers that have a sustainable ethos," he said. "Our pursuit was to find a kit satisfying both requirements, and Zhik's innovation enables us to do exactly that. It's a bonus that this cutting-edge gear is coining pioneering Australian technology."

Zhik's saga began in the Sydney garage of Brian Connolly, founder of Lake Technology which later morphed into Dolby Australia. Connolly, an avid sailing enthusiast, sought to revolutionise the industry's gear and embarked on his venture by designing clothing and equipment. He revolutionised the sailing gear by creating comfortable harnesses featuring Velcro entry systems, and developing a breathable waterproof fabric that was four times more waterproof than prevailing alternatives. Currently, Zhik supplies the most successful sailing teams globally, including six of the ten Sail GP teams, winners of the Volvo Ocean and Sydney to Hobart races, and the Olympic sailing teams of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark.