Why do sprinters untie their shoes immediately after a race?

ribbons wrote:

Because they tie up at the end of a race

+1

Trackfanny wrote:

Repentant MZUNGU SUPREMACIST wrote:

Spikes are tight, wrapped to cut, when racing. Not only that, walking normally in plated spikes is awkward and strains the achilles if you're not moving fast and carrying weight through the toes. They feel great when you're running 22sec 200 pace but as soon as you're done, they need to come off.

Definitely true. Sprint spikes are awkward and uncomfortable to walk in. Your toes are on a platform a half inch taller than your heel. It's the opposite of the normal toe drop in flats. It is like doing constant toe raises.

After the Sydney 2000 1500m El Guerrouj took off his shoes. After the 2004 Athens 5000m he did it again.

Laces wrote:

Are they that uncomfortable that it's the first thing they think of after crossing the line? Do they tie them extremely tightly so it almost cuts the circulation off or something?

Sponsorship. They are harder to see down low.

to let the epo cycle through their body

Untie Domi wrote:

Nobody dais wrote:

Cuz Bolt does it.

Ben Johnson did this before Bolt was born.

Lasse Viren may have started it, in 1972.

Big Black 19 sec Sprinter wrote:

Repentant MZUNGU SUPREMACIST wrote:

They feel great when you're running 22sec 200 pace

LOL. Did I hear a slow little white boy squeak?

No, a 44-second guy doing race pace work.

Good times are killing me wrote:

Laces wrote:

Are they that uncomfortable that it's the first thing they think of after crossing the line? Do they tie them extremely tightly so it almost cuts the circulation off or something?

Yes.

Entirely this.

err... no wrote:

JMac wrote:

The logos on their uniforms don't give away who they're sponsored by?

Not all athletes are sponsored by the same company who makes their national kit.

Oh, this is a championship phenomenon only.

It really is because a sprinter is trying to make their flexible feet as stiff as possible for power transfer.

A Cheetah has fused bones in its feet to achieve a similar result.

They have in race permeable drugs in their shoes.

err... no wrote:

JMac wrote:

The logos on their uniforms don't give away who they're sponsored by?

Not all athletes are sponsored by the same company who makes their national kit.

Oh, this is a championship phenomenon only.

Nice double post on my part, duh.

my two sense wrote:

Untie Domi wrote:

Ben Johnson did this before Bolt was born.

Lasse Viren may have started it, in 1972.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q0gKXvkYFPU/UBDsLGBQuSI/AAAAAAAABlc/PSuaLwIC8dU/s1600/lasse-viren-onitsuka-tiger.jpghttp://olympicshoes.blogspot.com/2012/07/history-of-modern-games-1972-munich.html

That was 1976 in Montreal.

ribbons wrote:

Because they tie up at the end of a race

JMac wrote:

The logos on their uniforms don't give away who they're sponsored by?

Cameras on the shoes. Repeat this 100 times until you get it straight. That's the correct answer.

I was at the finish line at that meet. Hilarious show! We should have more fun like that, it would make the sport more entertaining.

Plus a few minutes later I was high-fiving Maurice and an LA Times photo put me and him on the front page of the Sunday LA Times sports section. My 15 minutes of fame!

All he does is win wrote:

Laces wrote:

Are they that uncomfortable that it's the first thing they think of after crossing the line? Do they tie them extremely tightly so it almost cuts the circulation off or something?

So the cameras focus on their shoes. Get wise.

This. Sponsorship

Bolt took his off before he finished. Happy?

Team England didn't take its spikes off just now