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problem: pre-release shoes favor a tiny number of already-famous athletes proposed solution: athletes must use gear that's been GA for N years (5?), i.e. enoug
by asah 7y ago
problem: pre-release shoes favor a tiny number of already-famous athletes
proposed solution: athletes must use gear that's been GA for N years (5?), i.e. enough time to profuse into the market and for competitors to catch up.
problem: wealthy athletes have an unfair advantage over less wealthy athletes.
proposed solution: only allowed to use gear whose total price is below X. (street price? list price? I'm sure there's a solution...)
- sailfast 7y ago“All runners shall be barefoot” is the only natural solution to the argument, as the problem is posed if I’m reading this correctly. Swimming’s handling of the sharkskin suits is likely a good precedent for a rational settling of the argument, perhaps?
- yters 7y agoLet's just go back to naked athletics like the good old days of Grecian olympics.
- actusual 7y agoI think if someone is so good that the obstacle between them and a world record (or even placing in the top X%) is just a piece of gear, then they are likely to be sponsored. That calculus is easy for the shoe manufacturers. If you can give someone a pair of shoes, and have them perform in the top 10% of every athlete in that sport, you do that all day. Where that cutoff point is is kind of up to the manufacturer. Unfortunately, there will always be people on the bubble, whether it's from an equipment affordability perspective, or performance. It's still true with your solution. Additionally, the more rules you impose, the weirder shoe manufacturer behavior gets.
- gnopgnip 7y agoThe new rule for the Olympics is being GA for four months