PUMA has many fans in the Paralympic scene.
The Paralympic Games in Paris were a milestone: never before have there been as many spectators as in the Year of Sport 2024. Technology also plays an important role in the great performances of para-athletes, because sport with prosthetics has different requirements. Together with para-athlete Felix Streng, who won the bronze medal in the 100 metres in Paris, PUMA is researching and developing products that can change the game for para-athletes.
Its predecessor was already outstanding, but the Deviate NITRO™ 3 tops it all again.
Felix, what was your highlight of 2024 and how did you experience the Year of Sport?
Felix There were so many sporting highlights in 2024: the Olympics, the European Football Championships and rugby in England. My personal sporting highlight in the Year of Sport was of course the Paralympics in Paris and my bronze medal in the 100 metres. But it was also a year full of challenges and progress, in which I learnt a lot about myself and my body. Those experiences were very valuable as I prepare for the next cycle.
Are there any special routines or rituals that help you prepare for big competitions?
Felix I don’t have any rituals as such, but routines are essential for me, especially before big competitions. I’m constantly trying to optimise my day-to-day and training routines to find out what is particularly good for me physically and mentally. I always give myself the freedom to try out new things. What almost always stays the same is my breakfast. This helps me to make fewer decisions and simply be in the moment to focus on myself.
What are your favourite PUMA products and how have they influenced your life and success as an athlete?
Felix One of my favourite products is the PUMA Deviate NITRO™ 3 running shoe, which offers a fantastic running experience. Its predecessor was already outstanding, but the Deviate NITRO™ 3 tops it all again – which I would hardly have thought possible. PUMA shows how constant innovation can improve a product. For me, they have created the best running shoe on the market. I love this shoe. In terms of everyday products, my favourite shoe is the Suede XL in blue, which we got for Paris. It’s a great colour, which goes extremely well with different outfits.
I really enjoy being part of this process, seeing what ideas the team puts into action and how these innovations push our sport forward.
What progress has been made over the past few years? What are the most important innovations for you? Have there been any innovations that you thought were real game changers?
Felix PUMA is very open-minded and keen to experiment when it comes to innovation, especially with spikes. The evoSPEED Forte NITRO™ impressed me with its successful mix of responsiveness and flexibility, which gives my foot freedom and control at the same time while accelerating. PUMA has also made incredible progress with prosthetics with a spike sole, which combines protection and function. This has won PUMA many fans in the Paralympic scene. Such innovations make sport easier and better for us athletes.
Has technology changed a lot over the years compared to the beginning of your career and has this also changed the way you train?
Felix In my ten years as an athlete, technology has come a long way. When I think about it: there used to be no foam in the spikes – we tested it with prosthetics for the first time in 2014/15. And we realised that it felt incredibly good. But a lot has also changed in the way we train, how we think about running techniques or about nutrition and regeneration. I’m excited to see how this will develop in the future.
What is the collaboration with the innovation team like? How were they able to support you in particular?
Felix I really enjoy working with the PUMA innovation team. For example, I try out new test spikes, give feedback and support the development process. I really enjoy being part of this process, seeing what ideas the team puts into action and how these innovations push our sport forward. This testing enriches my day-to-day training and shows how exciting products are developed before they are launched.
Felix Streng
Felix Streng, born on February 16, 1995, in La Paz, Bolivia, is one of Germany's most successful para-athletes. The sprinter, active in professional sports since 2012, holds a personal best of 10.60 seconds in the 100 metres. At the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, he won the bronze medal in this event.
Where do you see the greatest potential for innovation? What challenges are there?
Felix In Paralympic sport, I see great potential in the field of prosthetics. The challenge is to develop a hybrid solution that works optimally both in terms of acceleration and top speed. Bionics will be a huge opportunity. I’m also excited to see how materials can become more flexible and adaptable. There has been little innovation here in recent years, but I expect great progress – especially with a view to the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. The proximity to Silicon Valley could push the topic of people and technology even further and take parasports to a new level.
It’s about strength and diversity, not limitations.
How did you start working with PUMA, and what is it about the partnership that you particularly enjoy?
Felix The partnership with PUMA started in 2021, just before Tokyo, and I am extremely proud to have been the first Paralympic athlete at PUMA. I am completely convinced by the brand – from the strong community to the family spirit that I always feel during photo shoots or visits to the headquarters. I’m a huge fan, wear PUMA whenever I can and find it inspiring to be part of a team with so many top international athletes. It’s fun to bring the PUMA spirit to the outside world and inspire others.
What are your next goals?
Felix My long-term goals? To compete at my fourth Paralympic Games, of course, and fight for medals again – that's my plan and my vision. Next year are the World Championships in India, and I want to be among the best there too.
What is your wish for the next generation of para-athletes?
Felix I hope that the next generation in Paralympic sport will show that anything is possible, even with a disability. It’s about strength and diversity, not limitations. We are a strong community that deserves its place in the world of sports and we will continue to fight for equality and recognition.
