new track and field suit

[Skeng DX]

The bad Nike designs didn't stop with logos. A new track and field suit, said to revolutionize the sport, debuted at the show on Tuesday. Nike claims the skin-tight suit will shave 0.23 seconds off a 100-meter time.

That's good news for American sprinter Tyson Gay. His chief rival, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, will be wearing Puma in London.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympi...230137256.html

[Skeng DX]

NEW YORK -- When USA Track and Field sprinters Walter Dix and Carmelita Jeter line up in the starting blocks in London this summer, they'll do so wearing recycled plastic bottles. Marathoner Abdi Abdirahman will wear running shoes that look like they were crocheted by grandma. That, of course, is a simplistic way of describing some of the most high-tech, sustainable, performance apparel and footwear Nike has developed to date.
On Day 1 of a two-day Olympics innovation summit held at Basketball City in New York City, Nike revealed innovations in basketball and running, including the uniforms that will be worn by the U.S. men's and women's basketball teams and track athletes in all events. (See photos below.)

The most attention-grabbing piece in Tuesday's collection was the Pro TurboSpeed track suit, dubbed the fastest track uniform Nike has ever built. According to Nike, the suit is reportedly .023 seconds faster over 100 meters than the company's previous uniform, according to wind tunnel data. It comes in a one-piece, full-body suit, a two-piece option and shorter styles for athletes in longer distances.

"When designing these uniforms, we always start with the athletes," said Martin Lotti, Nike's Olympics innovation director. "They are always looking for a competitive advantage and we gave them just that in a suit that is faster than skin. How much faster is astonishing. It's not just the difference between first and second, but the difference in even making the podium."

Of course, when talking about suits that are astonishingly "faster than skin," questions arise as to the legality of such suits and the debate over what constitutes performance enhancement begins.

"We are following all the rules and guidelines, so it is a legal suit," Lotti said. "The U.S. federation, U.S. Track and Field goes through the approval process with [the International Association of Athletics Federations], not us, and it is approved."

Lotti said it is his job to enhance athlete performance.

"It's no different than giving athletes a lighter shoe," he said. "That has been the endeavor of Nike since the beginning. We are here to enhance the athlete's performance. And at the end of the day, we give them this tiny advantage to win, but the heavy work comes from the athlete."

The suits are made with 82-percent recycled polyester fabric, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are reduced to fine pellets, which are then made into a yarn that is spun into material. It takes an average of 13 bottles to create enough yarn for one uniform. The basketball uniforms are made from an average of 22 bottles and are 41-percent lighter than the uniforms worn at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The distance-running shoes are constructed using Nike Flyknit technology, which is exactly what it sounds like. The shape and structure of the shoe's upper is knitted by machine using a variety of yarns and fabric threads. There is zero waste and the shoe weighs only 5.6 ounces. It is also 19-percent lighter than the shoe worn by the gold, silver and bronze medalists in the men's marathon at the 2011 World Championships.

"I have to look down at my feet to know if I'm still wearing shoes," Abdirahman told a group of more than 300 international journalists Tuesday morning. "It feels like I'm wearing socks."

[Gamma]

over a 100m ... this is a huge difference .023 and 0.23

[Mosiah]

The bad Nike designs didn't stop with logos. A new track and field suit, said to revolutionize the sport, debuted at the show on Tuesday. Nike claims the skin-tight suit will shave 0.23 seconds off a 100-meter time.

That's good news for American sprinter Tyson Gay. His chief rival, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, will be wearing Puma in London.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympi...230137256.html

Track suits can't take 0.23 off anything. The manufacturers say 0.023.

[Hortical]

Dem caan even say 0.023 specifically cause too many factors at play. Less wind resistance, maybe. Is wha Puma a do fi improve fi dem equipment?

[Willi]

Mouth mek fi talk. Nike a run off dem mouth!

[Gamma]

i know....how can it be proven?

[Exile]

Shouldn't be that difficult...if the 0.023 is attributed to drag and they can reduce this with the suit...BUT it must be averaged over the distance...so at what level are they talking..a 9.6s 100m or 10.9s???

[Willi]

Versus what? Birthday suit? Typical tracksuit? Shlorts and pants? Nike's last body suit? FloJo's 1-legger?

[Don1]

LOL...Babylon ah draw fi technology fi try match wi... expected...but cyaan wuk

They will continue to throw money at the "problem"

Memba mi tole yuh

[Exile]

They should say. Would think it would be the typical outfit worn by athletes...vest and shorts or one piece.