Custom Gloves
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) mission is to lead and enable a united high performance (HP) system that supports Australian athletes/teams to achieve podium success.
Custom Wheelchair Gloves
Madison de Rozario, wheelchair racing gloves
The gloves used in wheelchair racing can make a big difference for athletes. Getting custom-fitted gloves that deliver performance while protecting the hands has previously been a real challenge.
The AIS Applied Technology and Innovation team has been working with athletes to use 3D printing to deliver consistent, light-weight, reliable gloves.
Madison de Rozario is just one of these athletes who has been using these cutomised gloves at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and has won a bronze medal in the women’s 1500m T54, and gold in the 800m T53.
She had previously used gloves made with inconsistent moulds, and two sets were rarely the same. She said reliable custom-fitted gloves helped perfect her technique and get the most out of each push.
Using 3D printing technology, the AIS was able to make a CAD model of the glove and print new sets on demand. While 3D-printed gloves had been available overseas, these were not customised to the athlete’s hands.
AIS Senior Sport Engineer Matt Crawford said the technology had vastly improved the time it took to produce replacement gloves in emergencies, such as one time when Madi required a new set while competing overseas. The team could print a new set and have it delivered to her hotel waiting for her.
“The difference for me was immediate, you lose way less power in the push in the application phase,” Madi said.
Madison de Rozario during her gold medal winning performance in the women's 800m T53 event at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Photo: Paralympics Australia