“Unfair For A Lot Of Athletes”: Usain Bolt Didn’t Spare Nike And Others’ Technology Taking Over Track And Field In 2021

Since its inception, Nike has been a leader in developing sports technology. That’s what it wanted to show as the company released Team USA’s outfits for the 2024 Olympics. Per Nike, the kits are “the most athlete-informed, data-driven and visually unified the company has ever produced.” However, the women’s track and field outfits didn’t reflect this “athlete-informed” aspect, attracting widespread backlash. The thing is, this isn’t the first time Nike has received criticism. A few years ago, sprinting legend Usain Bolt took a critical stance against the $144.52 billion company.

The year was 2017. Nike released the Vaporfly – carbon-plated, thick-soled running shoes that featured a full-length carbon-fiber plate. This technology allowed runners to cut down on race times. Needless to say, athletes were against it because running is a test of fitness rather than technology. However, seeing the results, other brands followed suit. And sure enough, in 2021, Nike designed super spikes loosely based on the Vaporfly. And that’s when…

Lightning Bolt struck Nike

As someone who broke records based on his sprinting merit instead of technology, the fact that athletes could break his records with these new advancements didn’t sit right with Usain Bolt. In an interview with Reuters before the Tokyo Olympics, Bolt said, “When I was told about it I couldn’t believe that this is what we have gone to, you know what I mean? That we are really adjusting the spikes to a level where it’s now giving athletes an advantage to run even faster,” as reported by The Guardian.

Supporters of the new technology went as far as forecasting that the new shoes could help America’s then-favorite, Trayvon Bromell, break the 100m record in Tokyo. Bolt, who had used PUMA spikes throughout his career, criticized the Beaverton, Oregon-based company. “It’s weird and unfair for a lot of athletes because I know that in the past, [shoe companies] actually tried, and the governing body said, ‘No, you can’t change the spikes.’ So to know that now they are actually doing it, it’s laughable.” 

Bolt set the 100m record at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. He surpassed his previous best of 9.69 seconds and completed his 100m dash in 9.58 seconds. Similarly, in the 200 meters, 4 days later, Lightning Bolt bettered his previous best of 19.30 seconds and cemented his place as the world’s greatest sprinter by completing the race in 19.19 seconds. As for the Olympic record, his 9.63-second dash from 2012 is the 100m benchmark, joining his 19.30-second 200m sprint from 2008.

Thus, it was quite normal for Bolt to have taken a dig at technology because his records came at a time when thick carbon-foiled soles weren’t the norm in the industry. Bolt’s criticism of Nike is well reminded to fans due to the recent controversy when the company unveiled a leotard as a track and field uniform for women. They did receive major backlash from most US athletes, including Tara Davis-Woodhall, 2008 Olympian Queen Harrison Claye, and former track star Lauren Fleshman, among others. 

This time, there is no record involved. But the criticism is all the same, with the uniform even tagged as patriarchal by athletes. “A costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports,” Fleshman wrote. However, much like the opposers, there have also been supporters, including Katie Moon. Just as it is now, fans were also divided during the Nike spike controversy. Did the criticism stand justified?

Was Usain Bolt’s record broken?

Bromell clocked 9.77 seconds in the 100m at Tokyo Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, he failed to convert the golden opportunity. Bromell occupied third place in the Tokyo semi-finals and failed to make it to the finals. In the Kip Keino Classic, Bromell improved his personal best to 9.76 seconds. Furthermore, Bromell wore the New Balance spikes in Tokyo.

Bolt must have breathed a sigh of relief since his record is safe. As for Nike, it surely hopes to move past the track and field controversy much like it did last time.