{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1575827"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1575827/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND1334/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND1334/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022ND1334","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022ND1335","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB5247","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB5248","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1575827","accessionNumber":"CD.15-2021","objectType":"Nike Alphafly NEXT%","titles":[{"title":"Alphafly NEXT%","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"These Nike Alphfly NEXT% trainers, designed by the Nike Sport Research Lab in Portland, Oregon, are designed to optimise an athlete's energy return. A prototype was worn by Eliud Kipchoge in a record-breaking under two hour marathon. \r\n\r\nThe Nike Sport Research Lab is recognised for working with athletes and designers to create trainers to enhance performance in a variety of events. The Lab was established in 1980 with the goal to study runners in order to design sportswear that optimally suited their needs. Today, employing around 40 researchers, the Lab draws on expertise in biomechanics, biomedical engineering, and kinesiology to drive innovative developments across the Nike brand. \r\n\r\nFocused on long-distance running, the Alphafly trainers are an iterative development of Nike's Zoom Vaporfly 4% shoes, introduced in 2017. The aim with Alphafly was to make adjustments to the shoe to improve the efficiency of the runner's movements. From assessments of runners, the team determined that the runners needed further support in the forefoot of the shoe, which resulted in a number of material and technical innovations to create the Alphafly, which were released to the consumer marker in the summer of 2020. \r\n\r\nWhereas the Vaporfly model reportedly increases a runner's efficiency by 4% (hence the infusion of the percentage in the name), the Alphafly model is claimed to improve running economy between 5 and 8%. Thicker ZoomX foam, Zoom Air Pods, and a revolutionary carbon fibre plate all contribute to the Alphafly's significant improvements in running economy. The plate provides stability and stiffness, but also 'rocks' forward, helping propel the wearer into their next step from the front of their foot. \r\n\r\nIn October 2019, elite athlete Eliud Kipchoge broke the record for the fastest marathon while wearing a prototype of the Alphafly trainers. As a result of the shoe innovation and careful race management, Kipchoge was enabled to run the first under two-hour marathon. These same race-management measures mean that Kipchoge's race time of 1:59:40 does not officially count as a world record. While the shoes are recognised as a factor, the Kenyan Wold and Olympic champion's marathon time is a hugely-significant sporting achievement. When asked about the controversy over the Alphafly model, Kipchoge stated 'We live in the 21st century and we need to accept change/ Development goes hand-in-hand with technology. The shoe is good. [...] We should accept technology and marry technology'. \r\n\r\nFollowing Kipchoge's marathon, the international governing body World Athletics announced its first-ever shoe ban, disqualifying any shoes with a sole thicker than 40mm or with more than one carbon fibre plate in elite competitions. Shoes must also be available to the consumer market to purchase at least four months before being allowed in competitions. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n","physicalDescription":"The trainers, in a UK size 9.5, have a white knitted upper and laces with pink/purple and green/blue Nike 'swoosh' symbols that wrap around the front of the shoe. The box describes the colours as 'White/flash crimson-jade aura'. The sole of the shoe is made from thick foam, with the heal and forefoot of the sole seperated by a small 'V' shaped indentation. The forefoot of the shoe contains two sealed 'Air Pods' made from translucent plastic. The model number of the shoes is CI9925-100. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Nike Sport Research Lab","id":"AUTH377308"},"association":{"text":"Designed by","id":"x40048"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Carbon fibre","id":"x39119"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carbon fibre plate, Nike ZoomX foam (Pebax), Nike Atomknit (cotton yarn, polyester, nylon) ","categories":[{"text":"Sport","id":"THES48893"},{"text":"Footwear","id":"THES48951"},{"text":"Rapid Response Collecting","id":"THES262867"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DAD","id":"THES260586"},"images":["2022ND1334","2022ND1335","2021NB5247","2021NB5248"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES412780"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Trainers","id":"AAT225924"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"Produced","id":"x30771"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2020","earliest":"2020-01-01","latest":"2020-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by NIKE, Inc. ","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"28.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"A prototype of the Nike Alphafly NEXT% was worn by Eluid Kipchoge when he ran a marathon in under two hours in Prater Park, Vienna, breaking a world record.   ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Nike Alphafly NEXT% trainers designed by the Nike Sport Research Lab","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"","id":""}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Kipchoge, Eluid","id":"AUTH377309"}],"contentOrganisations":[{"text":"Nike","id":"AUTH335485"}],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"Nike, Inc.","id":"A2597"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"The INEOS 1:59 Challenge (two Hour marathon) (12/10/2019)","id":"AUTH377310"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"19.10.2020 \nRunning shoes\n\nThe Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% trainers were developed by the Nike Sports Research Lab in collaboration with Kenyan runner and Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge. Designed to optimise an athlete’s speed, the shoes feature thick ZoomZ foam soles, Zoom Air pods, an Atomknit upper and an innovative carbon fibre plate that runs the length of each shoe. The plate provides enhanced stability and stiffness and rocks forward, propelling the wearer into their next step.\r\n\nOn 12 October 2019, Kipchoge ran the fastest marathon on record while wearing a prototype of these Alphafly trainers. Despite breaking the two-hour barrier, World Athletics did not officially recognise Kipchoge’s time of 1:59:40. The international governing body announced its first-ever shoe ban soon after, disqualifying any shoes with a sole thicker than 40mm or with more than one carbon fibre plate in elite competitions. Kipchoge responded noting that: ‘We live in the 21st century and we need to accept change. Development goes hand-in-hand with technology. The shoe is g\nood.’\nLaunched on the open market in May 2020, the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% trainers are fully compliant with competition regulations.\n\nNike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% \n2020\nDesigned by Nike Sports Research Lab, USA \nCarbon fibre plate, Nike ZoomX foam (Pebax), Nike Atomknit (cotton yarn, polyester, nylon)  \nGiven by NIKE Inc \nMuseum no. CD.15:1, 2-2021\n\nThis label was written for the 2021 Rapid Response Collection.","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["CD.15-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"15","accessionNumberPrefix":"CD","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2021-02-03","availableToBook":false}}