Karsten Warholm Gains Confidence from New Running Spikes Ahead of Paris Olympics
As the Paris Olympics approach, World 400 metres hurdles champion Karsten Warholm is cautiously optimistic about his chances of breaking his own world record. In a recent interview with Reuters, Warholm shared insights into his preparation and the role that innovative running spikes play in his performance.
Warholm, who has been working closely with his sponsor Puma, has developed new running spikes that he believes could make a significant difference. “What I for sure know is that my shoe is a lot better than it was three years ago,” he stated, acknowledging the boost in confidence these advancements provide. However, he remains realistic about the unpredictability of sports, saying, “there are no guarantees. That’s why we love sport, I guess.”
The Norwegian athlete’s involvement in the development process took him to Vietnam, where he visited Puma suppliers to test shoes and materials. The new spikes were unveiled at an event in Paris, marking a milestone in shoe technology and potentially leveling the playing field for athletes.
Warholm, who previously expressed skepticism about the impact of “supershoes,” now sees the evolution of shoe technology as a positive change. “I think it has evened out now,” he remarked, highlighting the increased investment by brands in running shoes and the influx of new players in the market.
Puma’s latest campaign, which was launched on the same day as the new spikes’ reveal, features Warholm among other key Olympic athletes. The brand is making a concerted effort to capture a larger share of the highly competitive running shoe market. With these new running spikes, Warholm steps onto the track with not just his talent but also cutting-edge technology at his feet, perhaps bringing him one stride closer to another world record.
