Paralympic design: Nike Spike Pad for Oscar Pistorius
The London 2012 Paralympics begin tonight and over the coming days we'll be featuring a selection of cutting-edge sportswear designed for the competing athletes, starting with the Nike Spike Pad as worn by "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius.
![Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_Paralympic-design-Nike-Spike-Pad_9.jpg)
South African double-amputee sprinter Pistorius previously used regular track spikes and had to glue or tape the plates onto his blades in a process that took a couple of hours before each race and meant they were never quite the same twice.
![Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_Paralympic-design-Nike-Spike-Pad_square.jpg)
The Nike Spike Pad is designed to adhere directly to the Össur Flex-Foot Cheetah blades he wears, using just contact cement to reduce weight while maintaining strength and stability. It also takes only 30 minutes to attach both of them now.
![Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_Paralympic-design-Nike-Spike-Pad_7.jpg)
Nike innovation director Tobie Hatfield developed the design over the course of several months by reviewing high-speed video of Oscar running on a treadmill to identify the impact point of his blades during each stride and get the spike receptacles in exactly the right positions for traction and consistent performance.
![Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_Paralympic-design-Nike-Spike-Pad_3.jpg)
The spike plate is made of carbon fibre with a thermoplastic polyurethane coating, while the midsole pad comprises two pieces of foam with two different densities: softer at the back to cushion landing and harder at the front for take-off.
![Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_Paralympic-design-Nike-Spike-Pad_4.jpg)
Pistorius has been using the Nike Spike Pad since February and is pictured here in tests at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
![Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad Paralympic design Nike Spike Pad](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_Paralympic-design-Nike-Spike-Pad_8.jpg)
The Nike Spike Pad is also worn by Pistorius' American rival Jerome Singleton and the two will go head-to-head in the T44 100 metres next week.
See all our stories about design for London 2012 »