Olympian Mark Foster believes swimming is in danger of losing its identity through the new, faster suits which leave athletes "looking like sharks" as they chase quicker times ahead of the Beijing Games.

The likes of Australian Eamon Sullivan and Alain Bernard, of France, are two of several swimmers who have been breaking world records following the launch of the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit.

The suit has special panels of water-repellent plastic and ultrasonic welding, so there are no seams, which reduce drag on the body.

FINA, swimming's international governing organisation, have ruled the controversial costumes will not be banned from the Games this summer, and other manufacturers have since followed suit by bringing out their own versions.

Foster, though, feels with the use of such science, the sport is losing some of its core appeal.

"These new suits are giving people something like a two per cent advantage, which over my distance is half a second, half a body length. That is a huge difference," he said.

"When you look at it as a purist, I would like to see people back in swimming trunks, but that is not happening because technology is taking over and every manufacturer is making these new suits.

"I don't want it to get to a point, like in Formula One, where the person with the best design in their suit is going to win the race rather than it being the best swimmer.

"I would rather we went back to swimming trunks for blokes and bikinis for women which, let's face it, made the sport more attractive anyway. Now we all look like sharks or whales.

"But I guess it is like anything nowadays - you have to either grasp technology or get left behind."

Foster, 38, was in London to help promote the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme, from which more than £1million will be delivered, in partnership with SportAid grants, to promising British youngsters ahead of London 2012.

The specialist short-course sprinter has won six gold medals at the World Championships over the years and has also set world records, but so far making the podium at the Olympics has passed him by.

Foster was controversially denied the chance to compete in Athens four years ago after winning the British trials under the Olympics qualifying standard, but being outside the mark laid down by then national team director Bill Sweetenham.

A change at the head of British swimming has since followed, but the whole episode still irks the Essex swimmer.

"Say I was world champion, Olympic champion, world record-holder, odds-on favourite, but had a stomach bug on the day of the trials, under our system, I would not go to the Games, because you have to do the qualification at the trials," Foster reflected.

The 38-year-old, though, feels the new regime has a bright future.

"With Bill Sweetenham, he was very much old school, a dictator, do as I say. He treated everyone like kids," said Foster, whose gold at the 2004 World Short Course Championships in Indianapolis more than proved a point.

"There has been a change now, Michael Scott, who is a lovely guy, has come in.

"It is now a lot more relaxed, a vibrant and upbeat place to be."

Foster had decided to retire in 2006, but made a remarkable comeback when he qualified for a fifth Olympic Games after winning the 50m freestyle final at the British Championships in Sheffield in April.

The veteran, though, accepts he will be up against it to claim a long overdue medal in Beijing.

"I would not stand on the block thinking I could not win it, but I am also a realist and appreciate people have gone very, very quick," he said.

"However, saying that, a lot of those times have been down to the suit technology."