The Nike Vaporfly and Vaporfly Next% shoes were developed by Nike to help athletes run faster. They feature a technology called ZoomX, which provides a "snappy responsiveness" and helps athletes generate more power with each step. The shoes were first tested in 2017 by marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, who used them to run the fastest marathon ever recorded at the time. However, the shoes were not approved for competition by the World Athletics organization due to concerns that they provided an unfair advantage.
The Nike Vaporfly shoes have been shown to improve running performance by 1.6% to 5%, which is a significant advantage in competitive running. However, the shoes were never released for public purchase, and Nike has since developed a new version called the Nike Max Fly.
The development of these shoes has sparked controversy in the running community, with some arguing that they provide an unfair advantage and others arguing that they are a natural progression of technology. The World Athletics organization has established rules to govern the use of these shoes in competition, including a requirement that shoes be available for purchase by any athlete for at least four months prior to competition.
Overall, the development of these shoes represents a significant advancement in athletic technology and has the potential to change the sport of running forever.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Nike Vaporfly shoes were first introduced in February 2020 as part of a line of running shoes.
2. The shoes were designed for marathon running and featured a lightweight upper fabric, foam heel, carbon fiber plate, and Zoom Air pods.
3. The Zoom Air pods provide responsiveness and energy to the runner.
4. The shoes were used by Eliud Kipchoge in his attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier in 2017.
5. Kipchoge successfully broke the two-hour barrier in 2019, running a marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds.
6. The shoes were also used by other athletes, including Noah Lyles, who set a new world record in the 200 meters.
7. The shoes were not approved by the World Athletics organization due to concerns about their technology.
8. The World Athletics organization set new rules for shoe technology, including a ban on shoes with more than one carbon fiber plate.
9. Nike shelved the Vaporfly shoes due to concerns about their approval by the World Athletics organization.
10. Nike released an updated version of the shoes, called the Max Fly, which features the same Nike Airpod technology.
11. The Max Fly shoes are not approved by the World Athletics organization for high-level competitions.
12. The development of new shoe technology is expected to continue, with other brands working to recreate the Vaporfly shoes without violating patent laws.
13. The use of advanced technology in sports is becoming more common, with examples including the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit.
14. The LZR Racer swimsuit was banned by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) due to concerns about its impact on competition.
15. The development of new athletic gear and training methods is expected to continue, with the potential to redefine what is humanly possible in sports.
Note: Some of the text is in a timestamp format, which I've ignored for the purpose of extracting key facts.