Thanks to the Grand Slam Track, Grant Fisher is now $10000 richer. And it only adds to the spectacular season that the long-distance runner has had. Back in February, the 27-year-old American claimed 2 world record times in the 3000m and 5000m indoor events. What’s more impressive is that he achieved this feat in a span of 6 days. Naturally, it got people wondering: Has the Paris Olympian made any particular tweaks to his training methods? Or is this the dawn of the age of super spikes? The modern shoes definitely play a part in making the athletes faster. And this brings us back to Grant Fisher and the important question of what shoes does he opt for to achieve his continuous success? Well, let’s delve into it, then!
What shoes does Grant Fisher wear?
The 2017 5000m NCAA Champion has had a standing deal with Nike since he went pro in 2019. And his go-to spike of choice has been Nike ZoomX Dragonfly spikes. These spikes are designed for middle and long-distance races and have been a trusted companion of the Paris Olympian for a while now. In fact, a special, upgraded version of the Dragonfly 2, the Dragonfly 2 Elite, is the shoe Fisher wore to win the 5000m race in the Grand Slam Track (GST).
So, what makes Dragonfly 2 Elite a super shoe? Well, it’s all in the design and material. It has a full-length embedded carbon fiber plate instead of the normal ZoomX Dragonfly’s PEBA-based plate. What this difference does is it increases the stiffness, which can support more propulsive toe-offs. It also has 4 non-removable spikes, which reduce the weight of the shoes and make the sprint more effective. It has retained the midsole, geometry, and upper from the original Dragonfly 2.
However, the journey hasn’t been without some hiccups and issues. Just in February, Grant Fisher shared on Twitter that his brand-new Dragonfly 2 Elite shoes didn’t even last a week. His caption read, “Another pair, gone. And they didn’t even last one week. @Nike ….at this rate, you’re going to have to send them in bulk. This train is rolling.” Well, that’s just shocking coming from Nike, a world-famous brand known for its reliability and standards.
However, Fisher’s connection has been for a long while, and he knows Nike has been majorly dependable. Just take the GST result as an example. Or the world records he has set this season. The 27-year-old isn’t complaining right now. In fact, just on March 10, he shared a video on Instagram showing the Nike Vomero 18 training shoes. What did the Slam Champ like about Vomero? The double-stacked cushioning of ZoomX and ReactX that gives him a “nice cushion when you land and a nice spring when you push off. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Dragonfly 2 Elite looks to have gotten the full points from the Paris Olympics trials 5000m champion. But are the great results with the shoe because of some modifications or personalized changes?
Are Grant Fisher’s sprinting shoes custom-made by Nike?
Grant Fisher was a member of the elite Nike Bowerman Track Club from 2019 to 2023. And being part of that exclusive Nike-sponsored track club got him access to specialized footwear and prototype designs, models that haven’t been released in the market or maybe people don’t even know about. However, now that he is not linked with the club, he cannot avail himself of those advanced perks.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 10,000m Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 02, 2024. Grant Fisher of United States celebrates with his national flag after winning bronze REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
And as for custom-made special shoes for Grant Fisher, we haven’t heard anything like that, and no confirmation can be given. See, this is elite-level sports. The difference between gold and silver is many times one microsecond. The difference is down to meticulous planning, huge sacrifices, and a level of training that asks the question How far can you go? In such a scenario, customization of shoes to suit the athlete is not unheard of. And it’s not illegal. But we haven’t heard anything of such sorts for Grant Fisher.
It’s all down to his performance and the advantages that the shoe already had. And such advantages you can avail yourself of too.
Where Can You Buy the Same Track Spikes Worn by Grant Fisher?
Let’s get the main thing out of the way. These shoes aren’t cheap. Not even close. But you probably knew that already. Well, to buy the Nike ZoomX Dragonfly shoes, you just need to go to the official Nike website and search for ‘ZoomX Dragonfly spikes. ’ If it’s available, just add it to the cart and order your very own Dragonfly super-spikes.
Other channels are also there for you to buy the shoes. You can contact authorized retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Running Warehouse to see if they have the Dragonfly model. These retailers also have their dedicated websites where you can check if they have it in store.
Get yourself one and see how it feels. It’s a shoe worthy of champions. And Paris Olympians and record holders. That’s Grant Fisher all in one.
The post Grant Fisher Shoes: Inside the Nike Spikes Powering His Distance Dominance and Where to Get Them appeared first on EssentiallySports.