The emergence of carbon-fibre super shoes has transformed long-distance running, sparking fierce debate over whether they represent technological progress or an unfair advantage. The latest flashpoint is the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, a single-use shoe weighing just 138g that has been linked to dramatic improvements in performance.
British athlete Phil Sesemann, 31, relied on the Evo 1s in his bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics at February's Seville marathon. Wearing the shoes without socks due to a size mismatch, he ran a personal best of 2:08:02, smashing the British qualifying standard. The shoes, costing £400 and sold out globally, have a resale value exceeding £1,000.
Nike first sparked the super-shoe revolution in 2016 with the Zoom Vaporfly 4%, which biomechanical testing showed improved running efficiency by 4%. The distinctive design—a thick foam sole and carbon-fibre plate—led to a spate of world records. Critics argue such technology creates an uneven playing field, while proponents claim it pushes the sport forward.
Adidas has caught up rapidly, with Ethiopian runner Tigist Assefa using a prototype of the Evo 1s to smash the women's marathon world record by over two minutes in Berlin last September. Describing the shoes as 'like nothing I've felt before', Assefa's performance intensified calls for regulation.
As super shoes become lighter and more advanced, the debate over 'shoe doping' shows no sign of abating. World Athletics has introduced rules limiting sole thickness and requiring shoes to be available to all athletes, but questions remain over whether technology is overtaking talent in distance running.
