Mondo explains ‘revolutionary technology’ behind Tokyo 2020 athletics track

Tokyo – Italy-based floorings supplier Mondo Group has unveiled the technology behind the "revolutionary" Tokyo 2020 athletics track, which it says ‘maximises speed of athletes and improves their performance.’

Mondotrack WS includes a layer of vulcanised rubber on top to optimise grip and elasticity and a layer of air-filled cavities underneath to absorb shock, store energy and deliver ‘immediate kinetic response’.

The track’s top layer incorporates the company’s ‘TY granules’ – a three-dimensional network of purpose-made rubber granules with a specific polymeric system. 

The semi-vulcanised rubber granules are added to the mixture during production and form a molecular bond with the surrounding compound. This improves uniformity of dynamic response over the track surface, helping athletes control their stride lengths, running rhythms and stability.

“At the time of the foot surface iteration, the TY granules guarantee a uniform dynamic response and totally support the athletes in controlling their pace, rhythm and stability of the movement,” said Mondo in a 13 July statement.
 
Another patented technology used in Mondotrack WS, is the “non directional tessellation texture”. 

This surface embossing enhances slip resistance and traction and reduces the need for shoe spikes to penetrate the surface to grip the track.

Additionally, the tessellation model is responsible for optimal traction and drainage of the track, both in wet and dry conditions.

Another feature, a honeycomb elongated backing in the lower layer supports the athlete's feet, providing increased stability and reduced lateral movement of the lower leg.

The hexagonal air-filled chambers are surrounded by ribs that deform in three dimensions on the track underlayment, minimising the time the athlete is in contact with the flooring while maximising energy return, and optimising the floor’s reaction time, according to Mondo.

The Alba, Italy-based manufacturer said it supplied 35,700 square metres of athletics track for the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo and the adjacent warm-up track.

This it is equal 420 tonnes of rubber, or 1,875 rolls each weighing 220 kg.
 
The material was produced in two months at the Mondo plant in Alba and arrived in Tokyo in July 2019.

This is the 12th time Mondo is supplying tracks to Olympic games.