Throughout history, athletes have been an inspiration and a testament to endurance, mental strength and physical skill. Thanks to modern technology, athletes can perform at a level unheard of in years and centuries past – just look at the number of world records in athletics that have been broken in recent years. Performance-enhancing materials have had an unbelievable impact on performance in athletics, with innovations in everything from footwear to running tracks themselves helping athletes to push their limits further and further.

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High-Tech Fabrics for Enhanced Performance

While technology and fabrics might not seem like the obvious combination, there is a lot that has gone into the development of new types of fabric. Every element of how fabric interacts with athletes and the athletic environment has been studied to determine how to improve comfort, reduce drag and aid in performance. This is how we’ve come to have modern moisture-wicking materials that help with body temperature regulation – keeping athletes dry and comfortable as they push themselves. Compression items can help to support muscles, keep blood flowing and prevent tiredness. All of this ensures that athletes can perform at their best and recover quickly from their exertions.

Cutting-Edge Footwear Technology

The importance of the right footwear has been long been recognised by athletes and sports scientists. With new materials technology, has come new advancements that boost performance in athletes – lightweight carbon fibre plates in running shoes are an excellent example of this, helping improve athletes’ performance in endurance sports and cut down on discomfort. Foams used in footwear can help to improve energy return which, in turn, can be used to achieve better results on the track.

Advanced Training Surfaces and Smart Tracks

Modern running tracks are every bit as studied and carefully engineered as shoes and clothing. Gone are tracks made from natural materials, cinder or tarmac – instead, advanced materials are used to create tracks that improve performance while limiting the risk of injury. Synthetic track materials like polyurethane and rubber composites create a track that has excellent traction, high energy return and powerful grip. Innovations like smart running tracks, such as those developed by Feldspar, use integrated technology to provide real-time stats on speed and stride. These surfaces are not only fantastic for boosting athletes’ performances, but they also help coaches and the athletes themselves make adjustments in real time thanks to the data they collect.

Biomechanics and Wearable Technology

Wearable tech is the newest big thing in athletics – so popular, in fact, that they have become staples even outside of elite competitions. Wearable technology allows athletes to monitor things like:

  • Muscle activity
  • Hydration levels
  • Heart rate
  • Gait
  • Acceleration

This tech can be found in things like fabrics with embedded sensors and smartwatches with GPS capabilities. All of this information can be used to assess performance and tailor training programmes to each individual athlete. Much of the technology on offer is available to anyone, meaning that it benefits grassroots athletics just as much as the elite sporting world.