Keely Hodgkinson revealed her striking full-body speed suit had been a year in the making after marking its competitive debut with a dominant victory in London.
The Olympic champion delivered a spectacular end to a challenging season by cruising to 800 metres success at the first Athlos meeting to be staged outside New York.
However, it was Hodgkinson’s futuristic all-black outfit that immediately captured attention when she emerged in front of a sellout crowd at the StoneX Stadium.
The custom aerodynamic suit featured a hood, an open back and specially designed 3D-printed nodes intended to reduce drag across important areas of the body.
Hodgkinson completed the striking look with dark sunglasses and Nike’s latest carbon-plated running spikes.
There was also a specially created opening in the hood for her ponytail, which the 24-year-old revealed had been a non-negotiable part of the design process.
Speaking after her victory, Hodgkinson explained that the outfit represented a combination of sport, science and fashion – while potentially offering a glimpse into the future of athletics.
"This has been like a year in the making," she told the BBC. "It’s a mixture of fashion and speed and science all coming together for maybe the future of athletics.
"It was a real honour for them to choose me to put this out first. We weren’t sure when we were going to wear it.
"But an all-women’s event that’s all about the glitz and the glamour and putting eyes on women, a bit of a moment, I think was the perfect way to finish the season."
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The outfit drew comparisons with the famous hooded suit worn by Australian star Cathy Freeman when she claimed Olympic 400m gold in Sydney in 2000.
Hodgkinson certainly looked comfortable once the race began.
Roared on by the north London crowd, the Briton surged away from her rivals on the back straight before crossing the finish line in one minute and 56.40 seconds.
Swiss runner Valentina Rosamilia finished more than two seconds behind as Hodgkinson claimed her first victory since July’s London Diamond League.
Her reward was a silver Tiffany & Co crown, presented to each Athlos winner instead of a traditional medal, as well as prize money worth $65,000 (£48,500).
The event was created by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the husband of tennis icon Serena Williams, and featured seven disciplines involving six athletes apiece.
American sprint stars Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson were among the other winners during a glamorous evening featuring a red carpet and live trackside DJ.
Despite improving her British record, Hodgkinson was beaten by Switzerland’s Audrey Werro at both the European Championships and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship during the course of the season.
A nasty fall during a cool-down run in July and the return of a troublesome hamstring injury disrupted her momentum.
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