Quest for the perfect bra

AAP
June 28, 2006
This article from : AAP
THE fastest, the strongest and the most athletic at Australia's Institute of Sport will be enlisted to help develop one of the modern world's most elusive products - the perfect sports bra.
Volunteers will be called among female athletes at the institute to help make breast bounce a thing of the past.

The institute today announced a three-year deal with Berlei that will allow the bra manufacturer to develop its future products in consultation with Australia's gun athletes.

Modern technology is set to meet old-fashioned pain tests as the AIS athletes and Berlei strive for the holy grail of sporting accessories.

AIS director Professor Peter Fricker said the focus on sports bras was a natural progression from high-tech sporting aids such as full-length swimsuits and aerodynamic bicycle helmets.
"At elite levels, events are decided by tenths of hundreds of seconds - having the right equipment can be the difference between an athlete winning a gold medal or missing out all together," he said.

In return for providing the human guinea pigs, the AIS will be given advanced access to Berlei's designs, the idea being that the Aussie athletes will therefore have a competitive advantage.
The three-year deal gives Berlei the green light to subject the AIS sportswomen to the infamous "pain scale".

This involves fitting unreleased bras on the athletes, who perform a range of physical activities like running and jumping before rating the pain (or comfort) of each bra.

The partnership will allow Berlei to access the AIS's biometrics unit, which will allow the company to utilise 3D computer modelling to pinpoint the level of vertical bounce per bra.
Jodie Cochrane, an AIS biomechanist, says an unsupported 12B bust can move up to eight centimetres, and a double-D cup up to 18 cm.

"You want to reduce pain, and you want to reduce movement to prevent permanent damage," she said.

"Performance-wise ... the less movement the better - you're more comfortable, and you're more focused on what you're doing."

Melbourne Commonwealth Games long jump silver medallist Kerrie Taurima said a good bra was as important as top running shoes.

"You need to know that you've done everything possible to achieve your best - part of this is knowing you've go the right gear," she said.

"I wouldn't compromise the quality, fit and comfort in my shoes, and my bra is no different."