Rice shoes to win at Beijing Olympics?

When big companies are going after high-tech, revolutionary materials for the edge during the Beijing Olympics, Hitoshi Mimura goes back to basics and incorporates rice to give athletes an edge.

Mimura’s running shoes incorporates rice husks in the soles. He says,

The husks, which are ground and embedded in the rubber soles of racing flats, are designed to absorb water and to provide up to 10 percent better traction along the 26.2-mile marathon course at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Mimura is a former runner himself, and is not new to designing shoes that produce results. His shoes have been worn by 3 recent Olympic marathon champions, and in Beijing, Mimura hopes to make it even more. Via NYTimes.