Stu McMillan, CEO and sprints coach at ALTIS in Phoenix, Arizona, is a renowned figure in elite athletics. With over 25 years of professional coaching experience, Stu has worked with more than 70 Olympians across seven Olympic Games, over 30 of whom have won medals. His expertise in power and speed development, honed through roles with national governing bodies in six countries and coaching at three Home Olympic Games (2002 Salt Lake City, 2010 Vancouver-Whistler, and 2012 London), makes him a trusted authority in sprint training. As co-owner and CEO of ALTIS since 2013, Stu has pioneered innovative training methods, including the integration of OMORPHO’s weighted G-Wear and G-Vests.
Why OMORPHO G-Wear?
Stu McMillan’s Perspective
OMORPHO’s G-Wear and G-Vests use microloading technology to add subtle weight to an athlete’s body without compromising mechanics. Stu and his team at ALTIS have fully embraced this tool over the past two years, incorporating it into warm-ups and volume-based sessions to enhance performance. Below, Stu explains how this technology benefits elite athletes and offers advice on its application.
Subtle Weight, Significant Impact
“What I really like about it is when the athletes put it on and say, ‘This doesn’t really feel like any weight.’ And that’s kind of the point. You want something that isn’t going to affect your mechanics... You don’t actually feel it until you take it off. And then, most of the athletes feel an extra bounce, an extra reflexiveness. They feel a little bit lighter, faster, more responsive. So in a way, it potentiates the session to come.”
Stu recommends using OMORPHO G-Wear during warm-ups to prime the nervous system without altering running form. Elite athletes should wear G-Wear (tights, shorts, tanks, or sleeves) for the entire warm-up, then remove it before the main session. This approach creates a “potentiation effect,” making athletes feel lighter and more explosive, which can enhance sprinting and jumping performance.
Versatility Across Training
“The great thing about microloading is it just adds weight to the entirety of your body and it’s loading the entire body with all of the things that you do. So whatever it is you’re trying to get better at, whether that’s change of direction or agility or linear sprinting or jumping, it helps with all of that.”
Don’t limit OMORPHO G-Wear to specific drills. Stu emphasizes its versatility, making it ideal for all aspects of elite training. Incorporate G-Wear into dynamic movements like agility drills, linear sprints, or plyometrics to improve overall athleticism. The subtle weight enhances coordination and stiffness, benefiting any high-performance activity.
Enhancing Volume Sessions
“The other way that I really like to use it, especially with the vest, is on general work capacity, lower intensity, more volume sessions... We’ll do anywhere from about 1,500 meters up to about 2,500 meters in 100, 150, or 200 meter intervals, where we just have a little bit extra weight... It just works on the stiffness capacity of the athletes.”
For sprinters, Stu suggests using the G-Vest during extensive tempo workouts (e.g., 10 x 200 meters with 60 seconds recovery). The added weight strengthens ankle, knee, and hip coordination, improving systemic stiffness—a key factor in sprinting efficiency. Athletes should start with lighter vests to maintain proper mechanics while building capacity.
Long-Term Adaptation
“We can potentiate a session by warming up with this, but also when we thread that over and over again, what we find is we’re actually improving the capacity of the tissue and the joint system and the entire body to coordinate in very specific ways... That’s something that isn’t developed in a day but over the course of time.”
Consistency is key. Stu advises elite athletes to integrate OMORPHO G-Wear into their training regimen regularly to build long-term adaptations. Over weeks and months, microloading enhances vertical stiffness and joint coordination, translating to faster ground contact times and improved performance in competition.
Future Potential
“What I would like to do is have the ability to probably explore a little bit more... Is there a way in which we can maybe just be a little bit additive with some people, sometimes in some areas? Just a few ounces here, a few ounces there.”
Stu encourages athletes and coaches to experiment with microloading placement to optimize results. While OMORPHO’s current G-Wear line is effective, consider working with coaches to customize weight distribution (e.g., slightly more on the lower body for sprinters). This iterative approach can fine-tune training to individual needs, maximizing performance gains.
Conclusion
Stu McMillan’s experience with OMORPHO G-Wear and G-Vests underscores their value in elite sprint training. By leveraging microloading technology, athletes can enhance warm-ups, boost work capacity, and achieve long-term performance gains without compromising mechanics. As Stu advises, the key is to integrate G-Wear consistently and creatively into training, allowing athletes to unlock their full potential. Whether you’re chasing Olympic medals or personal bests, OMORPHO’s innovative apparel, backed by Stu’s expertise, offers a game-changing tool for elite performance.
