Yahoo Sports This Olympic Runner’s Spray-On Sneakers Are Poised to Make History in Paris
Kenyan distance runner Hellen Obiri will make Olympics history whether she makes it to the podium or not.
When the two-time Olympic silver medalist competes in the 2024 Paris Games later this month, she’ll do so sporting the Cloudboom Strike LS sneaker from Swiss-based brand On, The New York Times reported. The robot-made kicks use LightSpray technology that literally sprays the material onto the midsole of the shoe—not unlike Bella Hadid’s viral Coperni slip dress.
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Obiri told the newspaper that she first tried the running sneakers during practice and decided to wear them in the Boston Marathon race that took place in April, despite skepticism from her colleagues. “The first time I saw the shoes, I said, ‘No. I can’t run with these,’” Obiri recalled.
Not only did the Kenyan runner take first place, but she also earned her second back-to-title in Massachusetts. “She wouldn’t give them back,” Nils Altrogge, the director of innovation, technology and research for On, told The New York Times.
The shoe itself has a sock-like silhouette. Meaning, there are no laces, no tongue, no heel cap, no seams. To produce the sneakers, the upper is created in one go with the help of an automated robot. The outsole is placed onto a robotic arm which rotates the shoe while the spray releases a single continuous string of thermoplastic filament. The foam rubber and carbon-fiber sole is then attached to the sole using heat rather than glue and color is added via an inkjet printer.
Not only does the LightSpray technology result in a lighter sneaker, but it also cuts down on production time and carbon emissions. Plus, the whole process only takes about three minutes—which you can check out in the video below. “It’s really jumping into the future when it comes to manufacturing,” added Marc Maurer, the co-chief executive of On. Because the material used is a thermoplastic filament, that means it can technically be melted down and reused.
“One of the visions was, imagine if you go to a race, you have one of these robots with you, and on race day, if it’s wet or dry, the robot sprays you a perfect shoe for the moment,” Ilmarin Heitz, senior director of footwear at On, explained to Fast Company. “And at the end of the race you take it off, recycle it, and go to the next race.”
Currently, it’s unknown if any other athletes in addition to Obiri will be donning the futuristic kicks during the Olympics. However, Australian running Olli Hoare champ has previously competed in the Cloudboom Strike LS sneakers, and tennis star Roger Federer is also an investor in the company and a contributing product designer.
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