What Mary Moraa’s track rival tapped into for peak performance at Paris Olympics

What Mary Moraa’s track rival tapped into for peak performance at Paris Olympics

Festus Chuma 20:00 - 20.08.2024

Keely Hodgkinson secured Olympic gold using cutting-edge technology enhancing her performance and recovery through innovative pre-race preparation strategies.

Keely Hodgkinson wore groundbreaking technology as she prepared for the 800m final at the Paris Olympics, where she captured gold with a stunning performance.

The secret to her success could lie in her innovative pre-recovery kit, which includes advanced Nike ‘ice and heat’ clothing designed to provide instant temperature control.

The kit, not yet available to the public, features a high-tech vest and boots from the Nike x Hyperice range, which have also been sported by other top athletes like basketball superstar LeBron James and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.

Hodgkinson, who received the gear just days before her races, found it crucial for her preparations.

"They are very new to me.I literally got them a few days ago. It was nice of them to give it to me to try," said Hodgkinson in past interview as per Telegram.

The vest’s standout feature is its dual-functionality.

"The vest is heat and ice, so one button you press for heat, one button you press for ice. After an ice bath, I was freezing so I was using the heat," she explained.

This ability to switch between heat and ice offers athletes a versatile solution to manage their body temperature effectively during various stages of training and recovery.

The boots add another layer of innovation with their combination of compression and heat technologies.

Designed as a wearable device, they offer "heat and dynamic air-compression massage on demand," targeting the feet and ankles.

Nike claims this helps in deep heating of muscles and tissues, thereby facilitating faster recovery and better performance.

Hodgkinson’s use of these boots showcases how modern athletes are leveraging technology to enhance their natural abilities.

Hodgkinson won the women's 800m final with a time of one minute 56.72 seconds to join the ranks of British legends like Ann Packer and Dame Kelly Holmes as one of the few British women to win gold in this event.

The effectiveness of her pre-race routine and the use of the Nike x Hyperice gear might have played a significant role in her ability to maintain peak performance throughout the heats, semis, and the final.