Running Legally: The “Spray-on” Shoe and the 2024 Olympics
- rizmughal
- Aug 15, 2024
- 3 min read
Photo credit - Meta Endurance
The 2024 Olympics has been nothing short of spectacular, with ground breaking performances, historic achievements, and of course controversy, capturing the world's attention. Whether it was the opening ceremony, Raygun’s breakdancing spectacle, or Pakistan celebrating its first gold medal in 34 years, the games have been a celebration of ‘doing things differently’.
Amid these headline grabbing highlights, tech enthusiasts will have been most excited about the showcase in sports technology: the ON Cloudboom Strike LS “spray-on” running shoe featured in the women’s marathon[1].
The Rise of Technology in Sports
Wearable technology has been steadily gaining traction in the sports industry, transforming how athletes train, perform, and recover. From fitness trackers to smart fabrics, these innovations offer unprecedented insights into an athlete's performance, enabling them to push the boundaries of human potential.
Innovative technology in sport is constantly pushing the boundaries, whether it's nutrition, wearables, designs, or improved techniques. Among these advancements, the ON Cloudboom Strike LS running shoe stands out as a game-changer, incorporating the cutting-edge Light Spray technology.
A Revolution in Running Shoes
The ON Cloudboom Strike LS has been hailed as a revolution in running shoes, primarily due to its innovative patented Light Spray technology. The shoe is created using a continuous thread of thermoplastic film sprayed on a carbon fibre mould. It is bonded with heat rather than glue, and then coloured by an inkjet printer for its finishing. This breakthrough design sets a new standard for lightweight and responsive footwear, allowing athletes to maximize their speed and agility on the track. Hellen Obiri was the trailblazer who wore these running shoes during the women’s marathon in Paris, coming third (and only 15 seconds behind gold medallist, Sifan Hassan).
Obiri, an ambassador of the brand, first wore the shoes during the Boston Marathon, and her bold decision to wear these cutting-edge shoes again in the Olympics, underscores the growing important role of technology in elite sports.
Fad or Fate?
The Light Spray technology ensures that the shoe is incredibly lightweight, reducing drag and allowing runners to move effortlessly. This feature is particularly beneficial for long-distance runners who need to maintain high speeds over extended periods. The technology also optimizes energy return with each stride, providing runners with a noticeable boost in performance. This increased efficiency translates to faster times and improved endurance. Of course, Obiri isn’t the only athlete to wear the shoes, but she’s the athlete who has brought them to the world stage.
Legal Implications of Technology
The advent of technologies like the Light Spray technology in sportswear raises several potential legal implications. As these innovations become integral to athletic performance, questions regarding fair play and competitive advantage arise. Regulatory bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Athletics may need to establish additional guidelines to ensure that such technologies do not provide an undue advantage or undermine the principles of fair competition. Additionally, intellectual property rights associated with these advancements could lead to disputes over patents and proprietary technology. Manufacturers will need to navigate complex legal landscapes to protect their innovations while ensuring compliance with global sporting regulations.
World Athletics already got involved previously with Nike and Adidas, regarding their respective ‘super-shoes’[2] and they implemented new regulations to govern the use of super-shoes in official competitions. This resulted in the formulation and implementation of the Athletic Shoe Regulations (which were implemented into the World Athletics Competition Rules as book C2.1A) (“the Shoe Regulations”).
The Shoe Regulations[3] encompass the following:
fairness in athletics;
health & safety;
ensuring performances are achieved through human endeavour over technology; and
acknowledging that athletes wish to compete in high quality and innovative athletic shoes.
Intellectual property is fundamental to maximise the commercial opportunities in a product such as the ON Cloudboom Strike LS. The intellectual property rights attached to the product helps to maximise, and protect, the economic inherent value of the technology. This in turn ensures competition and innovation thrives as companies with new innovations such as this, are also forcing their competitors to push beyond the limits.
The Future of Technology in Sports
The ON Cloudboom Strike LS represents a significant milestone in the evolution of sports technology, offering athletes a competitive edge through ground-breaking design and functionality. As the industry continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative solutions that enhance performance, reduce injuries, and transforms athletes’ experience.
The ON Cloudboom Strike LS serves as a reminder that innovation and athletic excellence go hand in hand. One thing’s for certain; the race for technological supremacy has infiltrated every facet of our lives.
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