Amid heightened media attention over the disappointing performance of the U.S Speedskating team so far at the Sochi Olympics, Under Armour on Monday defended its Mach 39 racing suit. All of the uniforms use were tested “rigorously” and numerous athletes “have won Olympic medals for their country during Sochi
competition in Under Armour uniforms and products.”

The attention comes as the U.S Speedskating team has failed to place a
skater inside the top six of any event with four races left in the 2014
Sochi Games. In 2010, four earned medals and a combined 19 medals
were collected over the previous three Winter Games.

Under Armour's full statement read:

“Under Armour is dedicated
to providing the most innovative, state-of-the-art technology to our
world-class athletes for competition in Sochi and in competition around
the world. We work closely with all of our teams and athletes,
rigorously testing all of their Under Armour uniforms and training
products, to ensure all of the athletes' needs are met and they can
compete with total confidence. Multiple teams and athletes have medaled
in World Cup events and global competition leading up to the Olympic
Games and have won Olympic medals for their country during Sochi
competition in Under Armour uniforms and products.”

Under Armour had previously noted that skaters didn't use the Mach 39 in
competition prior to the Olympics, but tested the suit in practice.
Several skaters helped in its design, if only for fitting purposes.

The disappointment led the U.S. team to replace the Mach suits after six days of racing with the older version worn during the recent World Cup season. The older suit was likewise from Under Armour.

U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun told USA Today after the team's decision to switch to older suits, “The uniforms may or may not have made any difference at all from a physical standpoint, but for whatever reason they seemed to make a difference in what the athletes were thinking and feeling.”

Developed with the help of defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the Mach
39 was claimed it to be the fastest speedskating suit in production.