High tech training systems to help Irish sprinters at LA Olympics
It has been revealed that elite Irish sprinters are involved in a study at Lero, a leading software research centre at the University of Limerick.
Among those taking part in the study is sprint star and Olympic hopeful, Sarah Leahy, from Killarney, Co Kerry.
The groundbreaking research at UL hopes to give Irish sprinters a competitive edge at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
While the country has always excelled when it came to long and middle-distance athletes such as Sonia O'Sullivan and Caitriona McKiernan, in recent years sprinters have been on track for glory.
Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke brought home gold from the European Championships in Rome last year when Ireland won the mixed 4x400m relay.
They also bagged a silver medal in the women's 4x400m relay and there are high hopes that they can do even better at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
These successes and those of other Irish stars has regenerated an intense interest in athletics in this country as the green singlet becomes ever-more prominent in sprint disciplines.
And these successes have not gone unnoticed internationally with singer Rihanna now a big fan of Rhasidat Adeleke.
The work at UL will test the effectiveness of high-tech spike sprint shoes, potentially boosting their chances for success.
Lero researchers at UL's Sport and Human Performance Research Centre have partnered with DANU, an innovative Irish sports analytics company.
They are recruiting athletes to use DANU's wearable smart socks technology to capture and analyse athlete-specific data, focusing on the biomechanical assessment of super spike shoes.
Professor Ian Kenny said the research will clarify if athletes choose super spikes for sponsorship or for their technological benefits and injury prevention.
He said: 'Using real-world metrics on the track and not the lab, we will gain key insights into the benefits of DANU's technology, super spikes, and their impact on our elite sprinters – gaining a fraction of a second could give an Irish athlete a podium finish and a medal.
Lero, which is funded by Taighde Éireann—Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation Ireland - is now one of the world's top software research centres.
DANU founder and chief executive Oisín Lennon said they are delighted to continue their collaboration with the University of Limerick, describing the facility as leaders in software and research innovation.
He said: 'UL supported us in our early development, playing a vital role in validating our technology and shaping the direction of our platform.
'That early partnership was instrumental in helping us move from concept to a scientifically grounded product.
'Now, it's incredibly rewarding to see Lero and UL using our technology to drive groundbreaking research in elite sprinting – pushing the limits of what's possible in biomechanics and performance science.
'Collaborating with researchers of this calibre not only validates our approach but also ensures we stay at the forefront of innovation. We're excited to contribute to work that has the potential to impact sport at the highest level.'
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