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Chinese Lotus Shoes

Christopher Chattaway's Running Shoes

On 28th May 1955, Christopher Chattaway ran a mile in 3 minutes and 58 seconds at the White City Stadium. He was 14 seconds slower than Roger Banister, who broke the 4 minute mile record in the previous year.

 

White shoes with three green stripes on each side and a green stripe running down the middle of the toe.
Christopher Chattaway's Running Shoes

Chattaway’s running shoes were designed and made by Adidas in Germany. The upper, made of goatskin, has been machine sewn onto the sole with rubber stuck on top. 

Close up of shoe showing printed logo on the side. It says 'adidas, made in Germany'
Logo on Christopher Chattaway's Running Shoes

An extra bar of rubber has been stuck under the ball of the foot and four spikes have been inserted into the sole. There are seven eyelets for the laces and the sides have the famous three-stripes trademark and Adidas stamp. The sock inside is also stamped ‘Anti-bacterial’.

Sole of the shoe showing rubber on the heel and toe area (but not the arch) and four spikes in the toe area
Spiked Sole of Christopher Chattaway's Running Shoes