Nike, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells footwear, clothes, equipment, accessories, and services worldwide. It is the world’s largest provider of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, with the fiscal year 2020 revenue of more than US$37.4 billion. But did you know that Nike Alphaflys were banned from the Olympics?
The Alphaflys, or “the shoe that broke running,” as sports scientist Dr. Ross Tucker called them, feature technology meant to offer more energy return. They were prohibited from the Olympics because they were considered technological doping.
The Unfair Advantage of Nike Alphafly
According to ScienceFocus, his timing was 1:59:40, with an average speed of 21.18km/hr. Some claim that his sneakers, the Nike Alphafly, partly supplied it.
According to Ross Tucker, the shoes had technology that was supposed to provide the wearer with increased energy return and speed. Reviews suggest that the shoe increased running efficiency by 4% and speed by 3.4% thanks to the trio of carbon plates and cutting-edge midsoles. (Source: Tech Times)
Nike Alphafly New Version
The Nike Alphaflys were prohibited from elite competition under the World Athletics January 2020 standards. The new guideline states that shoes should not have more than one carbon fiber plate and should have a midsole height of less than 40mm. There were previously some contentious Nike sneakers, such as Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes.
Nike released another version, the Vaporfly, which took 31 of its 36 podium positions at major marathons in 2019 due to new regulations. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is responsible for more than only battling drug cheats; they also inspect sporting equipment to determine if it is against the spirit of the sport. (Source: Tech Times)
Nike Vaporfly Performance
The Nike Vaporfly looks like a regular sneaker. However, there are slight variances as well as a big difference. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the carbon-fiber plate, midsole material, and midsole thickness are right at the heart of the Nike Vaporfly’s efficiency.
According to reports, the full plate stiffens the shoe and functions as a lever to reduce work at the ankle. According to the Nike-funded but peer-reviewed study, running efficiency is boosted by 1.5%. The stiffness of the carbon plate may be enough to cause discomfort on its own. However, this is not countered by the midsole’s whole thickness, which measures roughly 31mm at the heel. (Source: Tech Times)
Shoe Performance Enhancement
It was noticed that a midsole this thick would add weight to an otherwise standard race shoe. It does not, however, because it is purportedly manufactured with a different polyamide block elastomer known as Pebax foam.
Other recent models use the popular air pods as an additional suspension system. According to reports, determining the precise collective advantage, each ingredient would provide is quite challenging. Shoes have a lot of innovative technology, such as detecting weights and falls.
However, for some runners, the stability, energy efficiency, and even comfort provided by the shoes are allegedly more useful than others. The improvements in run times range from roughly 6% to zero. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine. (Source: Tech Times)
Image from Multi Sport Mojo