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Professional triathletes do not have to comply with any rules regarding the choice of their running shoes, confirmed World Triathlon.
Despite athletics regulations governing shoe technology – such as limiting sole thickness – the triathlon governing body has admitted that it does not meet World Athletics (formerly IAAF) standards and that no verification is only carried out on shoes worn.
With all other triathlon organizations relying on World Triathlon for guidance on acceptable shoe technology, the net effect is that athletes competing in events such as Ironman and World Triathlon’s own races, including including its flagship triathlon world championship series, can wear whatever they want while racing.
Unless the situation changes, this also includes the Paris 2024 Olympics. This effectively opens up a Pandora’s box of opportunities for innovative shoe brands looking to develop faster shoes.
The issue was revealed after new Ironman World Champion Gustav Iden of Norway broke a new marathon record at the brand’s flagship event in Hawaii while wearing a pair of prototype ON running shoes that appear to have a chunky midsole (or stack height) within 50mm of overhang. World Athletics rules state that the stack height of shoes must not exceed 40mm for road running events.
RELATED: What the heck are running shoes (and why should triathletes care?)
Where not covered by its own rules, World Triathlon has always adhered to World Athletics regulations for technical aspects such as choice of equipment. It works in a similar way for the swimming stage (following the FINA) and to a lesser extent the cycling stage (UCI).
However, since World Athletics is currently using a working group to determine the direction the sport should take in terms of footwear development, World Triathlon has dropped the application of World Athletics rules.
A spokesperson confirmed: “The implementation of the rule that World Athletics has put in place, and to which our rules refer, is still under review by their working group.
“Given that the implementation of this rule (the approval process, in particular) is still under review and is not set for implementation in other sports, World Athletics has recommended to us not to adopt the rule until the process has been clearly defined. Therefore, currently we do not verify or endorse shoes.
While World Triathlon’s stance ushers in a free-for-all in what triathletes choose to wear, our research has revealed that other than ON and Iden – who took advantage of the loophole – no other professional, coach or even national federation doesn’t seem to be aware. of the situation and are still trying to conform to World Athletics standards.
For example, a brand that wanted to remain anonymous decided not to proceed with a prototype triathlon shoe for a multiple world champion triathlete because its stack height would have violated the 40mm rule.
On the other hand, ON, who signed Iden in the week before the race on the Big Island, have been given the green light to adapt a shoe for the Norwegian as they see fit.
“Gustav wore a Cloudboom Echo 3 model tailored to his specific needs for this race,” said ON press officer Silke Tegethof. “To ensure the legality of the shoe, we contacted the Ironman and World Triathlon organizations who confirmed that they adhere to their rules.
“Ironman competitions do not fall under World Athletics regulations, a fact that World Triathlon and the Ironman organization confirmed to us prior to the event. Ironman rules apply, which contain no regulations for running shoes.
Although Tegethof is correct, World Triathlon went further when approached to confirm that this was not just the case for Ironman races, but extended to ALL types of triathlon.
In contrast, World Athletics has a list of approved footwear that it refers to when governing track and road racing that meets its current standards.
Iden won in his Kona rookie performance with a time of 7:40:24, taking 11 minutes off Jan Frodeno’s record time from 2019. ON said the exact specifications of Iden’s shoes would not be accessible at the audience.
The emphasis on high performance running shoes has increased in recent years following technical improvements using carbon plates combined with highly responsive Pebax foam which aims to increase running efficiency and restore more energy to the runner with each stride.
Race times have dropped over almost every distance as a result, with Eliud Kipchoge’s time of 1:59:40 for 26.2 miles in the INEOS Challenge: 1:59 in 2019 capturing global attention as wore a pair of never-before-seen Nike AlphaFlys.
At Saturday’s Ironman World Championship, Iden lowered Germany’s Patrick Lange’s marathon course record by more than three minutes to 2:36:14, after swimming 2.4 miles and cycling 112 miles.
The multitude of fast times caused an outcry among traditionalists who felt the integrity of athletics, from track to road, was being eroded as record books were rewritten and some athletes, such as those wearing and sponsored by Nike, had an unfair advantage. There were also concerns about skyrocketing shoe prices that prevent runners from playing the sport or being competitive.
The pressure has forced the heads of athletics governing bodies to pass regulations in an attempt to curb shoe development, such as limiting sole thickness and restricting models to a single carbon plate or blade. . The latest regulations from World Athletics are available here.
Tom Hughes, a PhD researcher at Leeds Beckett University in the UK and an expert in biomechanics, explained why increasing stack height could provide an advantage for athletes like Iden.
“In short, as long as it doesn’t increase the weight significantly, it gives the midsole more material for energy return,” he said. “It’s the heart of the new Pebax style and other foams. When you have more stack, you get more energy.
“It’s a compromise with the weight, but these foams are very, very light. Secondly, there is an increase in “leg length”, which could also be beneficial. »
A 2005 research article also suggested that increasing leg length can improve running economy by allowing longer stance times and therefore more time to generate force for the next stride.
It remains to be seen whether the loophole will be closed to restore some order in the shoes authorized in triathlon. World Triathlon said to check with World Athletics for timelines to find out when its regulations might be ready for adoption.
Triathlete has contacted World Athletics for comment. In the meantime, it looks like triathletes can wear whatever they want.
RELATED: Understanding Stack Heights in Running Shoes