World Athletics should 'enable' super shoe development
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe supports enabling innovation in super shoe technology despite concerns over fairness and performance enhancement. Record-breaking marathon times, including sub-two-hour runs, have been achieved using advanced Adidas shoes. Coe emphasizes athlete mentality and training as the primary factors in performance, while acknowledging the need for regulatory oversight.
- ▪Sabastian Sawe became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in an official race at the London Marathon.
- ▪Tigst Assefa set a new women's only world record at the London Marathon, wearing the same Adidas super shoe.
- ▪The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 weighs less than 100 grams and features carbon-infused 'energy rods' for improved running economy.
- ▪World Athletics has previously regulated shoe technology, including limits on sole thickness and carbon-fibre plate design.
- ▪Critics, including Australian marathoner Robert de Castella, argue super shoes amount to 'technological doping' and threaten the spirit of athletics.
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World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says super shoe technology should be enabled as records tumble SBy Simon SmaleTopic:Marathon14m ago14 minutes agoSat 2 May 2026 at 12:07amTigst Assefa broke the women's only world record at the London Marathon. (Getty Images: WireImage/Karwai Tang)abc.net.au/news/sebastian-coe-world-athletics-president-shoe-marathon-record/106634252Link copiedShareShare articleWorld Athletics boss Lord Sebastian Coe said he will not "strangle" the innovation that has led to a new market in super shoes.However, the two-time Olympic 1,500-metres champion told the BBC that the governing body had a "regulatory responsibility" to the sport.Super shoes have come under the spotlight again after last weekend's record-breaking London Marathon, where Sabastian Sawe became the…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).