Japanese run and apparel specialist Mizuno has confirmed a three-year sponsorship deal with three time and current ITU World Triathlon Series (ITU WTS) Champion Javier Gómez Noya of Spain. The contract covers all of the triathlete’s running shoe and run training apparel requirements and will see Gómez through to, and past the Rio Olympics in 2016.
(This latest run and apparel deal for Javier Gómez follows a recently inked multi-year sponsorship deal with wetsuit brand ROKA.)
“It’s not often that you get the opportunity to work with one of the world’s truly great athletes. I’m absolutely over the moon to have Javier as a Mizuno brand ambassador,” said Rob Henderson, Mizuno UK Marketing Manager.
Henderson continued, “I’m especially happy that it was Javier who approached Mizuno as he recognised the innovation and quality of the 100 year-old brand.”
The Spanish world champion and Olympic silver medallist has been at the top of his game for 10 years with a string of victories against the best triathletes in the world. “In a quest for marginal gains,” said Gómez, “I look for anything that is going to make a difference to my performance. Mizuno’s new midsole material – U4iC (‘euphoric’) – is 30% lighter than in older models, making the shoes super-light helping me get just that little bit more out of myself –and in my sport that is the difference between a Gold and Bronze.”
Javier will be racing in the Mizuno Wave Hitogami for Olympic distance events. This new shoe from Mizuno is a racing flat. It replaces the Mizuno Wave Musha and Wave Ronin and is positioned as offering ‘the speed junkies wishing to unleash the spiritual powers of speed!’
Wave Hitogami gets its inspiration from the Japanese Kabuki theatre and refers to a person with supernatural power – a human god. In this tradition, the Samurai’s can do the impossible because they have summoned this shamanic possession. Mizuno notes that ‘for those possessed with running this shoe helps break the boundaries.’
The new Mizuno Wave Hitogami shoe aims to combine the best features of Wave Ronin and Wave Musha into one, as well as introducing Mizuno’s latest technology, the U4iC (pronounced ‘euphoric’) midsole. The lighter material ‘sets your feet free, whilst still delivering surprising levels of support and cushioning.’
The rubber platform in the forefoot means runners can feel the ground and be promised a responsive ride. And like many of the new offerings from Mizuno for this season, the new radius on the lateral side of the shoe offers up a smooth and silky ride from heel to toe.
The upper is minimalist and fuss-free, with a Dynamotion Fit cage, reinforced internally and holding the midfoot secure, whilst the forefoot is free to power forward and at speed. Less fuss, less seams, and the strength and reinforcement coming from within saves on weight, too.
There’s a surprising amount of cushioning in this shoe for a racer. And support comes from the anatomically engineered midsole geometry for stability. Further stability comes from the wider gauge in the forefoot, and extra comfort from the new premium sockliner.
Mizuno Wave Hitogami
- RRP: £85
- Weight: Men’s 220g/Women’s 190g
- 8/17mm ramp
- 9mm offset
Mizuno was founded in 1906 in Osaka by brothers Rihachi and Rizo Mizuno and has evolved from a small shop selling sporting sundries to a worldwide multisport powerhouse. Despite its global growth, Mizuno has stayed loyal to the values and beliefs upon which it was founded, which is ‘a blend of Japanese culture and advanced modern sports technology and innovation.’
