Is Footwear The New World Record Breaker?
Technology is changing lives and making things easier as we have seen with Formula One as they are at the pinnacle of motor sport. Sport needs innovation and to always keep on moving forward bettering performances but what about athletes? In the past we had many athletes who ran barefoot especially in the steeplechase and yet they still managed to win against others wearing high tech footwear. This latest trend is somewhat different however as there is hidden technology which enhances the performance.
A number of World records were broken at the recently held World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. So many that former great and world record holder Michael Johnson asked if the timing system was working correctly.
World Records Broken at the Oregon World Championships.
Marathon, 2:05:36, Tamirat Tola (ETH)
400 m hurdles, 46.29, Alison dos Santos (BRA)
Shot put, 22.94 m, Ryan Crouser (USA)
Discus throw, 71.13 m, Kristjan Čeh (SLO)
100 m, 10.67 (+0.8 m/s), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
200 m, 21.45 (+0.6 m/s), Shericka Jackson (JAM)
400 m hurdles, 50.68 WR, Sydney McLaughlin (USA)
3000 m, steeplechase, 8:53.02, Norah Jeruto (KAZ)
Marathon, 2:18:11, Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH)
35 km walk, (road), 2:39:16, Kimberly García (PER)
3 hurdles world records in one championship?
The track records that were broken had something in common and they were all using the latest footwear which is still not breaking any rules currently. The rules state that sprinting spikes can have soles no thicker than 20mm which is the same as the Adidas Adizero Avanti running shoes.
The Nigerian runner Tobi Amusan who managed to break the 100m Hurdles world record used this running shoe as she injured her foot earlier in the season and this has a more springy cushion was her reasoning. This shoe is designed for the longer distance athlete as it is advertised as "provide a snappy, propulsive ride with high traction and reduce fatigue, so you finish 5km and 10km races with a kick." source
Looks like a high end running shoe but wait to see what they advertise as the offering.
Soft and Responsive Lightstrike Pro midsole
Anatomical EnergyRods for propulsion (EnergyRods that follow along a runner's metatarsals, creating a naturally snappy feel)
Ultra-thin race-ready upper
What is interesting to note is the 100m and 400 m hurdle records were broken using similar types of technology even though they were different brands. Any advantage gained especially in a race that requires jumping combining a springy sole has to be beneficial.
Are these like mini blades like the disabled athletes use?
Back in 2020 research was done on some new technology spring sole loaded footwear with some alarming results. Originally being developed for ultra distant athletes allowing for less fatigue due to having a springy response these shoes are moving with technology far quicker than first thought.
The US Military has been working on specialised footwear which would make them the fastest army in the world and why not use it if it is available? The shoes being tested were not the same as what we have witnessed with the records that were broken, but who is to say that this technology is not creeping into the footwear as it has to. Anatomical Energy Rods sounds like something more than just support and comfort.
The test looked at the speed of Usain Bolt and the human running action using an exoskeleton. During the running action the leg only supplies 20% of the energy when it hits the ground and adding a spring sole would increase that energy by another 76% or 3.8 x more.
What this actually means is the Usain Bolt could run at 20.9 m/second instead of 12.3m/second. The technology has been developed and is still being worked on but when you see Anatomical (carbon) energy rods built inside of the shoes to help propulsion you do start to worry where this is going.
We have seen it in other sports like golf where balls have to be of normal spec along with the golf clubs. Holes have had to be lengthened as the modern payer just hits the ball that much further. The Tour de France has issues with doping and possibly mechanised bicycles to deal with so what is stopping athletes gaining an advantage through footwear. If the technology is there people are going to use it and it will kind of make a joke of all past records making them seem meaningless.
I am all for sports science developing the human body in ways we haven't seen before through nutrition and exercise as that is definitely going to make a difference. Records are going to be beaten but we want them to be beaten on ability and not from outside influence. I suppose it will happen
as the technology used back in the 60's and 70's had nothing on the 80's and 90s and the same is applied to today.
I am on the fence with this as I don't watch athletics and don't know these athletes so who is to say they wouldn't have broken the records anyway. I do think the International Athletics body has to keep a close watch on this as the next Olympics could be more about the shoe than the athlete which would be unfair.
But I don't think it's possible for the record brokers to make the records through footwear, it may be coincidence, others too wear shoes and they did very well, what if the second position shoe is even higher in price than the ones the record breakers wore
Not about price but the technology. In the one race the others were over a second behind. Things even out as if everyone has the same types of shoes the times will decrease and the fastest athlete will win like normal. This is more than a possibility of records being broken as already the questions are being raised by ex athletes and world record holders.
Yeah difficult one. I agree, as soon as I saw the "Engergy Rods" in that diagram, I thought that doesn't sound like an integral part of a shoe! It would however be pretty amazing to watch someone like Usain Bolt move at 20m+ a second
Yes it would be amazing but where do we draw the line as it will make a mockery of the older standing records and less on ability.
Wow your reminded me of all those years ago Cathy Freeman running in the full body suit. Yesr 2000 Olympics and winning on home soil. Where do we draw the line in sports science?
I feel like it'll go full revolution like most things. We'll eventually strip back layers of advancement to make sports more "authentic" again
I have no problem with body suits as that is using technology and various fabrics but adding springs/rods or tension coils is a different story.
Greetings,
When we were brought up in my clime,doing sports on bare feet,I think I appreciate that now.😁
Something dangerous is brewing here that is inimical to fairness in track events. Somehow,I don't see any hope of it being checked or curtailed properly.
Hmmn
This is dangerous and I am hoping they will have rules imposed to stop athletes gaining an unhuman advantage.
Tobi Amusan has fueled the debate because of the footwear she wore during her competitions, although it is true and you explained it very well she did not break any rule because the footwear she wore is within the limit of the allowed thickness. While it is true and it is striking that with this shoe some records have been broken.
In my opinion Tobi Amusan would have broken records even if she had run barefoot.
Maybe she would have as we will never know and why it is a pity that her performance and others are being questioned. I do think there is something to this and is not all hype and just creating news.
It's sad that others weren't questioned before now on this but it has to be when she did hers. I didn't like the fact that this is clouding the greatness she achieved when the same didn't happen with others. I am also in support of athletes winning based on their abilities rather than being enhanced. Technology in this regard is robbing us all of seeing the true potential and appreciating people for what they can do.
No that isn't true as other athletes performances have been questioned as well and more in the long distance events like the marathon. These shoes were designed more for the longer events as it does help save energy by offering a spring back effect. With hurdles the benefit is definitely there as it would help you glide over the hurdles far easier as it offers that type of help giving you a boost.
Oh I get it now. Thank you sir.
I personally have issues with Michael Johnson's approach to this. I understand that the shoes were designed as enhancer which can give athletes the edge but he moved from there and started talking about the wind playing a role too. I like natural talents being at the center stage of wins not technology as good as technology sounds.
Yes. I get it but wind has always been a factor and why records don't count when assisted. This has always been the case and is not new and why the second record didn't count on the night which was right. natural talent will always overcome these things and I hope next year at the Olympics the shoes are not a talking point, but sadly I believe it will be a war with the shoes and not the athlete.
It would be serious war with the shoes. I think they need to do something about this so we won't have to face the same issue again next year or better still, every athlete should wear this shoe so no one has the edge 🤣🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😂