Looking Back on 2015’s London Marathon: Why 3D Printing Was Paula Radcliffe’s Secret Weapon

The magic of Materialise Phits Suite

The process of developing phits orthotic insoles was, and still is, fast and straightforward. It began by gathering Paula's dynamic data by having her walk, stand, and run across specialized plates that measure her movement and pressure points. In doing so, the team could identify key characteristics of her gait that traditional methods just can't provide, including the pressure across different zones, toe-off, and pronation vs. supination.

After analyzing this data with the help of an advanced software, foot and ankle experts based the design off of AI-generated input and adjusted according to their consultation with Paula. With Materialise's existing 3D printing expertise, it wasn't long until the design was brought to life. For Paula, getting her hands on the real thing changed everything for the better.

"Without the support of phits, it would have been impossible to recover so well after my surgery, and most likely, I wouldn't have been able to continue my running career," said Paula.

As was always the case, Paula continues to inspire others, this time through her collaboration with Materialise. In the years since that final race, many others - athletes and otherwise - have benefitted from phits orthotics in much the same way. Fellow runners like Charlotte Purdue, and all members of the Team GB marathon team at the Tokyo Olympics, have followed in her footsteps and picked up their own pairs of phits. It's clear her role at the front of the pack extends beyond the incredible times she set throughout a remarkable career. Looking back and knowing that we played some part, however small, in making sure she had the send-off she deserved is an opportunity everyone at Materialise will always be grateful for.