Cloudboom Strike LS
By Sarah Clark, MS, ATC
The 2024 Paris Olympics were nothing short of thrilling. Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart hilariously guided us through the City of Lights with their unique blend of humor and charm. Athletes swam in the Seine, volleyball matches unfolded under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and breakdancing made its Olympic debut. The excitement was palpable, both for those in attendance and those watching at home. Reflecting on past Olympics and seeing how technology has evolved across sports is fascinating, but this year, something truly groundbreaking stole the spotlight.
Hellen Obiri, the phenomenal Kenyan distance runner and 2-time Olympic silver medalist, made history—not just with her incredible performance but with her choice of footwear. Hellen sported the Cloudboom Strike LS from On, a sportswear company known for pushing the envelope. But here’s the twist: this wasn’t your typical sneaker. It was a spray-on shoe! Yes, you read that right. On has developed a revolutionary technology called LightSpray (LS), and it’s as fascinating as it sounds. Imagine a robot placing a foot form on its arm, then spraying on the entire upper part of the shoe in 1 continuous filament. The whole process takes just 3 minutes! Fast Company recently highlighted this game-changing technology, and it’s set to transform the world of sportswear.
So, what does this mean for athletes like Hellen Obiri? First and foremost, it promises a perfectly customized fit, crucial for comfort and peak performance. The efficiency and precision of the spray-on method could also revolutionize sportswear manufacturing, making it more sustainable by reducing waste and conserving resources.
Hellen’s decision to wear the Cloudboom Strike LS at the Olympics is more than just a fashion statement; it’s a bold move that showcases how technology can reshape athletics. She wasn’t just running for gold—she was running for innovation, making this a truly historic moment. And what a race it was! Hellen won the bronze medal in the Women’s Marathon for Kenya, setting a personal best with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 10 seconds—just 15 seconds shy of the gold medal! Hellen also secured back-to-back victories at the Boston Marathon (2023 and 2024) and triumphed at the New York Marathon (2023). Impressively, she became the first woman since 1989 to win both the Boston and New York Marathons in the same year. It should be noted that she did wear the spray-on shoe in the 2024 Boston Marathon.
Hellen Obiri’s spray-on shoes are a perfect example of how technology can shake things up—not just in sports, but in so many areas, like medicine. When we step outside the box and challenge what’s considered normal, we open the door to incredible possibilities that can change the game. Whether it’s improving athletic performance or transforming patient care, innovation is the key to progress.
So, let’s take a page from On’s playbook and start thinking about how we can bring that same forward-thinking mindset into our own fields. How are you disrupting the norm and making an impact? The future is wide open, and it’s up to us to shape it. Let’s get to work!
Sarah Clark, MS, ATC, is a healthcare consultant who helps independent medical practices transform chaos into calm. With over two decades of experience, she uses her “4 Ps to Success” framework—People, Patients, Paperwork, and Processes—to optimize practice efficiency. As a Fractional Practice Administrator, Sarah provides hands-on support to improve patient care, boost staff morale, and increase profitability. Her workshops and keynotes cover topics from Process Improvement to enhancing patient experience. Ms. Clark’s entry is an edited version of a a recent blog post which can be found at sarahclarkconsulting.com.
