Bright trainers signal a cocky athlete

All Blacks wing Cory Jane wears bright yellow trainers as he plays against the Pumas.Photo / Mark Mitchell

Sportsmen who wear bright trainers are signalling that they are masculine, cocky and excellent at their sport, a new study claims.

Those who wear all-white trainers can be aggressive, according to new research at the University of Brighton.

Dr Christopher Morriss-Roberts, senior lecturer in the School of Health Professions in Eastbourne, says footwear choice often speaks volumes about what kind of person the wearer is.

He says his research introduced him to the concept of "podolinguistics" - the ability to communicate feelings or attitudes through the foot and shoe.

The study was published in Podiatry Now, the journal for the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

- PA