Adidas Pro Evo 3 powers sub‑two‑hour marathon victories

Adidas unveiled its third‑generation Pro Evo shoe, claiming a 30 % weight reduction and a 1.6 % improvement in running economy versus the previous model. Engineers highlighted an iterative design process, with vice‑president Stephan Scholten noting, “It’s always a very iterative process.” The shoe’s carbon rim and revised foam formulation were credited for the performance boost.

Wearing the Pro Evo 3, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon in 1:59:30, breaking the legal sub‑two‑hour barrier and shaving more than a minute off Kelvin Kiptum’s previous record. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second, just 11 seconds behind, and Tigist Assefa set a new women’s world record of 2:15:41, all in the same shoes. Kejelcha later said, “Nothing is impossible,” and expressed confidence that he could eventually surpass Sawe’s mark.

The achievement underscores the impact of elite footwear on marathon performance and marks a significant milestone in the sport’s evolving limits.