The Runner | Is wearing carbon-fibre plated running shoes cheating?
- The new technology is under scrutiny and the IAAF is not helping as critics say it gives racers an unfair advantage
- The shoes, which are expensive, feature carbon-fibre plates that supposedly spring runners forward
Professional athletes will do just about anything to gain an edge.
Swimmers will shave their entire bodies in hopes of cutting milliseconds off their times, baseball pitchers will spit on the ball to make it slippery and boxers will punch concrete walls to strengthen their knuckles.
But at what point do these tricks of the trade become too much? The same question revolves around sports equipment, as every competition or league has rules and regulations on what you can and can’t wear so competitors don’t gain an unfair advantage.
Nobody is denying completing a marathon in loafers or sandals will probably hurt your time, but what if you wore sneakers that went the other way?
Various shoe companies have come out with carbon-fibre plated mid soles, which, according to claims, help spring runners forward. This started in 2017 with Nike’s Vaporfly 4% shoes, which were incredibly expensive (newer versions cost more than HK$3,750), but clearly still took off within the running community.
