Nike’s controversial, record-breaking shoes
It was described by Nike as a shoe to break records.
But the success of the company’s state-of-the-art ZoomX Vaporfly is creating a storm of controversy in the running world.
According to The Times ,a group of top level athletes have complained to the IAAF and the Athletics Integrity Unit, calling for the shoes to be examined by experts.
They believe the shoe, which has a carbon plate built into the midsole and retails for about $350, is ‘‘ruining’’ the sport because it gives the athlete advantage’’.
‘‘They think an the ‘‘unfair shoes are maybe allowing elite athletes to run two minutes quicker in the marathon,’’ former marathon champion told
‘‘Understandably they are troubled by what is happening in their sport because the times being run are so fast. Even older runners are taking huge chunks off their best times.’’
Since Nike launched the Vaporfly in July, 2016, Dennis Kimetto’s 2014 world record of 2:2.57 has been bettered on five occasions, each time by an athlete wearing the shoe.
When Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon barrier at a specially staged event, dubbed the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, in Vienna on the weekend, he was wearing a special prototype of the Gianni Demadonna Vaporfly. As was Brigid Kosgei, who smashed the women’s world record by clocking 2:14.04 the following day in Chicago.
‘‘Normally I don’t like to fall for marketing stuff, but if you look at the research and data, the shoes seem to have a big effect,’’ Steve Magness, a performance coach for professional runners, told The Washington Post.
A statement issued to The Times by the IAAF said: ‘‘Recent advances in technology mean that the concept of ‘assistance’ to athletes . . . has been the subject of much debate in the athletics world. The IAAF has established a working group to consider the issues.’’