Are the shoes that runners wear when setting new road racing world records (especially the marathon) ever checked to make sure that they are legal? Could a great marathon runner have the shoe company that is endorsing him make an illegal custom-made shoe that looks just like the shoes that everyone else can buy, but that are modified to give him (or her) a distinct (and illegal) advantage over his competitors?
It would not be at all surprising if this was happening. Rupp, Cragg, Flanagan, all got prototype shoes before the 2016 OT Marathon. Kipchoge was literally the design test subject for Nike's latest line of super shoes. They probably made some compromises to make them for the masses, but him getting them custom made is not a stretch. Making them visually indistinguishable from the production show would minimize any scrutiny.
I believe at some races, the shoes of elite entrants are checked beforehand to see if they meet WA standards, but I don't think they are using anything more technologically advanced than an eyeball.
I believe at some races, the shoes of elite entrants are checked beforehand to see if they meet WA standards, but I don't think they are using anything more technologically advanced than an eyeball.
The shoes of elite entrants are checked by the eyeball test/measured. In some races, people are chosen at random to give their shoes to World Athletics to be cut open and examined. Others are chosen (non-random) such as in record-breaking performances to be examined.
I believe at some races, the shoes of elite entrants are checked beforehand to see if they meet WA standards, but I don't think they are using anything more technologically advanced than an eyeball.
The shoes of elite entrants are checked by the eyeball test/measured. In some races, people are chosen at random to give their shoes to World Athletics to be cut open and examined. Others are chosen (non-random) such as in record-breaking performances to be examined.
Not sure what can be measured anyway. Unless the shoes are size 8.5 men's or smaller, the 40mm stack height limit doesn't apply anyway. Meaning most men can wear taller than 40mm stack.