Can Olympic runners compete barefoot?

[Barefoot TJ]

Can Olympic runners compete barefoot?
SportingNews.com
Barefoot running is allowed, but it's rare. In order to compete in bare feet, one should first be training in bare feet, and there aren't many track athletes ...

 

[spoonerweb]

I think tracks now days are designed with the idea that people will be wearing shoes/spikes on them, so they make them rough to grip the shoes better.

 

[Tristan]

Sad to hear a few of them claim foot injuries and switched back to shod eventually. Of course, one doesn't usually get to Olympic levels by being natural and healthy - I think most of those athletes are pushed way beyond healthy limits with overtraining, performance enhancing drugs, etc. But good that barefooters have made it that far.