Download
Advances in spike technology are laughable and unfair, says Bolt
CGTN
Usain Bolt (2nd R) of Jamaica in a celebration pose after his world record men's 200m final race with a time of 19.30 seconds in the Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 20, 2008. /CFP

Usain Bolt (2nd R) of Jamaica in a celebration pose after his world record men's 200m final race with a time of 19.30 seconds in the Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 20, 2008. /CFP

Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt said that advances in spike technology that could help wipe out his world records are laughable and that the new shoes also give an unfair advantage over any athletes not wearing them.

After athletes ripped through the record books in distance running with carbon-plated, thick-soled shoes, the technology has now moved into sprint spikes. Although there is less time in a race for the advantage to make an impact, it is still enough to make a difference.

"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," Bolt told Reuters in an interview from Kingston, Jamaica.

The world record holder in 100 and 200 meters competed in Puma spikes throughout his career.

"It's weird and unfair for a lot of athletes because I know that in the past, they (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 added.

Source(s): Reuters

Search Trends