Nike introduced the Vaporfly in the 2016 Olympics to Nike-sponsored athletes, three of whom took the top spots in marathon events. Since then, the shoe has been the weapon of choice of elite athletes like those competing in the 2022 Boston Marathon. Why? Because Nike designed the shoe to literally make you faster. To not wear the Vaporfly has become a disadvantage. So how exactly does this shoe increase speeds and should it even be allowed in competition?
Further reading:
University of Colorado
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2017/11/16/new-shoe-makes-running-4-percent-easier-2-hour-marathon-possible-study-shows
Runners world
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a30721631/nike-vaporfly-ban/
Business Insider
https://www.businessinsider.com/nike-vaporfly-shoes-runners-with-other-sponsors-wear-secretly-2020-8
Asics
https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/running-advice/the-anatomy-of-a-running-shoe/
Run Repeat
https://runrepeat.com/state-of-running
Global Newswire
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/10/27/2321902/0/en/By-2026-Worldwide-Athletic-Footwear-Market-Size-Share-Will-Reach-USD-120-000-Million-Facts-Factors.html
Wired
https://www.wired.com/story/the-science-behind-nikes-new-vaporfly-next-marathon-shoe/
The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/10/kipchoges-sub-two-hour-marathon-how-legitimate-it/599974/
New York times
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/12/sports/eliud-kipchoge-marathon-record.html
Running Magazine
https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/brigid-kosgeis-marathon-world-record-finally-ratified-by-world-athletics/
ESPN
https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/24695440/eliud-kipchoge-sets-new-world-record-berlin-marathon-win
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