When the most decorated 100-metre sprinter ever stepped to the line for a final time, she told herself what she knew: that she was prepared, powerful and this race was hers—for her. The next handful of seconds were to honour everything that had brought her to this moment.Green, yellow and black hair whipping behind her—a self-proclaimed "daughter of the soil", who chose to wear the colours of her nation's flag for her final finish—gold-hued&nbsp;nails splayed in front of her, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-celebrates-shelly-ann-fraser-pryce" target="_blank">Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce</a> exploded off the blocks in the World Athletics Championship final in a capacity-filled Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. She ended her 100-metre career in the same way she began racing 18 years ago in Japan—with fierce speed, strength and composure. It was a bold tribute to Jamaica, the nation whose unyielding support has carried her through two decades at the top of the sport.In her decades of dominance—from becoming the first Caribbean woman to win Olympic gold in the 100 metres in 2008, to returning as World Champion in 2019 after giving birth to her son, Zyon—Shelly-Ann has embodied the power of duality.&nbsp;The ability to have longevity in athletics's shortest, most intense discipline; exuding femininity and self-expression in a physically demanding sport; proving motherhood and greatness can coexist.What athletes everywhere, and especially young girls, can take from Shelly-Ann's lead: the courage to run your own race, on your terms. To trust that setbacks don't define you, only your response to them. And the assurance that, if you believe in yourself and work with discipline, harmony is possible. Dreams and family, career and legacy.For that and for the now 276 incredible races and finishing line moments, thank you, Shelly-Ann.Below, go behind the scenes of the GOAT's final meet days in Tokyo.

The shoes. The hair. The finish. At the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Shelly-Ann, a five-time world champion, ended her career her way.

Sofieke van Bilsen is a 29-year-old Dutch photographer with a passion for storytelling through imagery. She is the in-house photographer for the German women's national football team, and was team photographer for the German Olympic Team in Paris 2024. She works closely with Nike athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan.In her photography, she aims to create compelling visual narratives, focusing on the deep connection between emotion and athleticism. She strives to capture the raw moments behind the scenes, the untold stories of the journey and everything in between, bringing the spirit of sport to life.Sofieke's personality creates instant connections with people, and she is loved by the athletes she works with. Her relaxed and enthusiastic personality complements an incredible skill level and the ability to work in high-pressure environments for athletes.

Sofieke van Bilsen

Photo essay

Icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Ran Her Final 100 Metre On Her Terms

Over the course of his career, LeBron James has shared his passion for the game globally, partnering with Nike to travel throughout Greater China during his offseason, galvanizing a nation in its love for basketball and hoops culture. Just as LeBron's career has evolved through different eras, his tours have represented different values over the many times he's visited since 2005. Below are some of his most memorable moments in the country.

2005–2009

LeBron began his debut tour in Beijing in August of 2005. He was invited to watch the awards ceremony of the Nike Battlegrounds tournament, but he'd depart as more than just a spectator. From the moment he stepped down in China, he believed his tour could become a cross-cultural exchange rooted in a shared love of hoops and a mission to inspire the next generation of young players in China. "Basketball is not only a sport, it's also a bridge that connects people", he said.&nbsp;"This is a great learning experience for everyone. I hope I can continue to help grow the game globally and inspire the youth in China to reach their dreams".

LeBron's legacy in China is woven into special China-specific iterations of his signature footwear. In 2007, LeBron James appeared alongside NIKE, Inc.'s then-President & CEO Mark Parker to debut his Nike Zoom LeBron V "China" colourway.

LeBron returned to Beijing in 2009 after his MVP season, where he enjoyed a hero's welcome. As part of his trip, he donated equipment and provided scholarships for the Zhenhua School, a school for the children of migrant workers in suburban Beijing.

To celebrate his season, LeBron was presented with an exclusive pair of the Nike Air Max LeBron VII, featuring a Shenyang-inspired design dubbed "Loyalty" created by the local artist Ray Lei, and a Shanghai-inspired design dubbed "Family", created by the local artist Sic.

2011–2015

LeBron embraced his role as a global ambassador for the game, focusing on the opportunity to inspire China's young players. In 2011, his tour expanded to eight days over four cities, promoting grassroots basketball through a series of skill clinics and tournaments.

In 2012, with a fresh gold medal to pair with his championship ring, LeBron James made a triumphant arrival in Beijing to kick off a four-day tour as part of the&nbsp;Find Your Greatness campaign. "Greatness is defined by how much you want to put into what you do", said LeBron. "Greatness comes with victory. It also comes with being able to come back from adversity".

In 2013, LeBron returned to China with plenty to celebrate: his second straight NBA championship and MVP awards for both the regular season and the Finals.

In 2014, LeBron James was the first mentor to announce the roster for the Nike RISE, designed to help players raise their competitive game and improve their skill.

In 2015, Nike RISE 2015 evolved with LED Courts and motion-tracking drills to create a pinnacle training experience, teach the fundamentals of basketball and push the boundaries of sports training.

An emotional finale saw four players chosen to represent China at the World Streetball Championships.

2016–2019

After winning another NBA title in 2016, LeBron entered Guangzhou to a massive championship parade, the streets flanked by tens of thousands of fans, many of them in Cavs #23 jerseys. It was a signal for just how widely James's legacy had expanded throughout Asia.&nbsp;His More Than an Athlete campaign inspired young players to see basketball as one of many tools for affecting social change.

After a warm welcome from thousands of fans, he spent most of his time in Beijing working out with and coaching members of the Chinese Junior National basketball team.

Visiting primary schools throughout Beijing, LeBron shared his personal basketball experiences with young athletes, emphasising the role that hard work, dedication and self-belief played in his path to success.

In 2018, the first day of his "More Than an Athlete" tour in Shanghai began with a panel discussion with students at the Shanghai Theatre&nbsp;Academy, and ended with a park shootaround. Hundreds of fans gathered outside the court to watch him play, hoping to catch a glimpse of the icon.

This month, LeBron flew to China for his "Forever King Tour", his 15th in the country and marking the 20th anniversary of tours in Asia. There, he joined some of the world's most passionate hoopers and basketball fans, reiterating his commitment to giving back to the game across the world.

Over the course of his career, LeBron James has shared his passion for the game globally, partnering with Nike to travel throughout Greater China during his offseason, galvanizing a nation in its love for basketball and hoops culture.

Journey of an icon: 20 years of LeBron James in China

Hours of powering up steep ascents and navigating gnarly descents. Whipping mountain winds, glaring direct sun and biting evening temps. Getting mentally right with the fact that the next aid station is far, far away. Ultra trail running can sound like a gruelling, relentless sport reserved for the wildest, most hardcore athletes among us.According to our <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-acg-all-conditions-racing-department" target="_blank">All Conditions Racing Department</a> runners—six of whom just conquered pinnacle UTMB races across the French, Italian and Swiss Alps, on trails spanning 15 to 174 kilometres, with elevation gains of 1,200 to nearly 10,000 metres—the grit, determination, joy and freedom trail running gives you are worth every ounce of work. See for yourself.

<h3>ROSS GOLLAN</h3>Race: Experience Trail Courmayeur (ETC); 15K with 1,200m elevation gain Global finish rank: 29th

<h3>MARIE NIVET</h3>Race: ETC; 15K with 1,200m elevation gain Global women's finish rank: 7th

CESARE MAESTRIRace: ETC; 15K with 1,200m elevation gain Global finish rank: 2nd

<h3>BAPTISTE COATANTIEC</h3>Race: Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB); 174K with nearly 10,000m elevation gain Global finish rank: 11th

<h3>ANTHONY COSTALES</h3>Race: Courmayeur—Champex—Chamonix (CCC); 101K with more than 6,050m elevation gain Global finish rank: 15th

<h3>DREW HOLMEN</h3>Race: CCC; 101K with more than 6,050m elevation gain Global finish rank: 3rd

Powering up steep ascents. Navigating gnarly descents. Whipping mountain winds. Ultra trail running is a relentless sport. But the payoff is well worth the grind.

Ultra trail running can take everything you've got—and give you even more

25 January 1964. Saturday.The Beatles registered their first number-one hit song in the United States: "I Want to Hold Your Hand".And on a cold, rainy day in Portland, Oregon, a coach and his former athlete met for lunch at the Cosmopolitan Hotel to discuss a possible business partnership.One hour later, Phil Knight and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/bill-bowerman-nike-s-original-innovator" target="_blank">Bill Bowerman</a> stood, reached across the table and shook hands. Blue Ribbon Sports was born.To understand how two Oregonians arrived at that moment—and why it held—we have to go back a decade, to a teenager who had just been cut from baseball.

The Beginning

Phil Knight grew up in Southeast Portland and went to Cleveland High. As he tells it, he was the last cut on the sophomore-and-under baseball team—a decision that stung."I was heartbroken but my mum said, 'You are not going to mope around the house. You're either going to get a paper route or go out for track'. Well, that was easy. I went out for track".That decision set him on a course that would change his life, and, eventually, the sports world.Knight tried out for athletics and quickly found his stride. While he was physically smaller than his teammates, he was fast, competitive and willing to work.At one early meet, his father, William, a labour lawyer who would later become publisher of the Oregon Journal, introduced him to Oregon athletics coach Bill Bowerman. The two older men had attended the University of Oregon together. That day was his first introduction to the coach who would later shape his life.By then, Knight was already starting to win and place in local races, enough to earn a name in Oregon's competitive prep scene. During his junior year, he spotted a headline that stuck with him: Bill Dellinger, a runner from the University of Oregon, who had just won the mile at the national championships under Bowerman's coaching."It was startling", Knight said. "It was a huge headline in The Oregonian and that's when I became aware of Bill Bowerman and what a phenomenal programme he had".

The Hamburger of Runners

Although small and lean, Knight never let size hold him back. In 1955, he played on Cleveland's city-championship basketball team, finished second in the league 880-yard (805-metre) run and took fourth at the state meet. By autumn, he'd earned a spot on Bowerman's athletics and cross-country teams at the University of Oregon.Long before his first practice, though, his father had already turned to Bowerman for guidance—an early glimpse of the connection that would define both men's careers. Curious to get the coach's perspective on whether Phil should attend university or join the military, William Knight wrote to him that autumn.Bowerman replied with his trademark mix of bluntness and care."My first concern is for your young man's education", he wrote. "All will not be fun and frolic. It takes hard work for success in anything … it is a privilege to have your son here, also a responsibility for me, for you and for him".

Like many freshmen before him, Knight soon learned what that meant, struggling under the bombastic Bowerman. "After my freshman year, I had to sit down with myself and ask if I was going to go back to that crazy man, or not", Knight recalled. "I realised if I go back, I'm just going to have to do things his way because he's not going to change. So, I went back".That decision proved pivotal. Bowerman saw potential in Knight—not&nbsp;as a star runner but as an ideal test subject. "I wasn't one of the best runners on the team", Knight admitted. "Bowerman knew he could use me as a guinea pig without much risk".He called Knight the "hamburger" of runners—hearty stock, forgiving, determined—and began using him to test early shoe prototypes. In August 1958, Bowerman sent Knight a letter outlining his summer training plan and added a postscript, "If you have a pair you think would make good flats, send them down. They'll be ready when school starts".The pair Knight received that autumn featured an experimental white, rubber-coated fabric—"the kind you'd use for a tablecloth you could sponge off", Bowerman later said. They were crude, functional and a glimpse of what was coming. The coach was still years from finding a manufacturing partner, but his drive to build a faster, lighter shoe had already found its first willing tester.

From Athletics to Business

By the time Knight graduated from Oregon in 1959 with a degree in business, his competitive drive had shifted from athletics to the classroom. The next stop was Stanford, where he enrolled to pursue his MBA.At first, his path seemed uncertain. But during his final year, a class called "Small Business Management" caught his attention. It was a class that would quietly spark the idea of a lifetime."It was the only entrepreneurship class, so it was one of the classes that I was most interested in", Knight said.&nbsp;He developed a strong rapport with his professor, Frank Shallenberger, who assigned the students a simple but open-ended project: invent a new business, define its purpose and create a marketing plan to support it.Knight had recently overheard a conversation among photographers at the Oregon Journal, where he'd worked summers during university. They were talking about a surge of inexpensive Japanese cameras that were starting to rival the more powerful and costly German models."Electronics was a popular topic at that time and the smart kids chose to write about things like that", Knight said. "But I didn't know anything about electronics, so I wrote about something that I did know about—shoes".Drawing from his experience as one of Bill Bowerman's wear-testers, he built his hypothetical company. By 1962, German sports shoes were on the rise in the US—high quality, yes, but expensive. Knight saw an opening.He turned the idea into a paper he wrote almost literally overnight with a single bold hypothesis: Can Japanese sports shoes do to German sports shoes what Japanese cameras did to German cameras?Knight argued that Japanese-made running shoes could compete on both price and quality with the dominant German brands. Knight received an "A". When the assignment was over, he couldn't shake the idea. "I wrote a letter of enquiry to virtually every Japanese shoemaker that I could find".Only one company replied: the Kow Hoo Shoe Company of Hong Kong. The letter, written in imperfect English, was polite but discouraging."It is with regret to inform you that due to lack of [such] equipment and material, we can hardly manufacture [such] type of shoes and trust that every shoemaker in Hongkong (sic) fails in doing so. We are expert in manufacturing golf shoes, skating boots and bowling shoes, etc.".It wasn't the answer Knight had hoped for, but it didn't matter. A seed had been planted that would soon take root.Shaken but not deterred, he was about to face the opportunity of a lifetime.That story—and more—will come in future Department of Nike Archive features on The Record.

Born of need and elevated by expertise and diligence, today the Department of Nike Archives (DNA) cares for hundreds of thousands of artefacts and a limitless vault of connected stories.&nbsp;The brand archive began organically in the 1970s and officially became DNA in 2006. The department's purpose is to both preserve and accelerate the ever-evolving and interconnected story of Nike. "Knowing who you are and the fights you've come through can do huge things for morale, inspiration and creativity. That's what DNA provides". - Phil Knight

Department of Nike Archives

Go behind the scenes of the famous business deal between Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman—co-founders of Nike.

History

The Handshake That Started It All

About Nike—stories from inside NIKE, Inc.

From his first year travelling to China to his 15th, LeBron James and Nike have used basketball as a cross-cultural exchange to unite players from across the world. During his final stop on the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/lebron-james-forever-king-tour" target="_blank">Forever King Tour</a>, LeBron watched multiple teams face off in Chengdu, their squads separated by thousands of miles: the China Rise men's and women's teams, and the EYBL Cal Stars (women's) and Veritas Academy (men's) based in Los Angeles. Their love for the game might have been born across different geographic lines, but one constant in their personal stories has been <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/lebron-james-china-tour-archives" target="_blank">LeBron himself</a>, who cheered on the teams as they played.

—Photo contribution from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/zhengyibb/" target="_blank">ZhengYi</a>

Amateur teams from China's Rise Academy and the LA-based Cal Stars and Veritas Academy went head to head during LeBron's China tour. There in attendance to cheer them on: the King himself.

Rising together

Images: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/cameron-strand-contributing-photographer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Cameron Strand</a> Two world records broken. Nike athlete <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/faith-kipyegon-profile" target="_blank">Faith Kipyegon</a>'s 1500m WR, forecast last week during her <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/topics/breaking4" target="_blank">#Breaking4 attempt</a>, and Beatrice Chebet's 5000m WR. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/pre-classic-bowerman-mile" target="_blank">New national records set</a>. Personal bests across the board. All in front of a sold-out crowd at Eugene's Hayward Field, a venue considered sacred ground in the world of athletics. The 50th anniversary of the Pre Classic was every bit worthy of the meet's namesake, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/how-steve-prefontaine-set-the-pace-for-nike" target="_blank">legendary runner Steve Prefontaine</a>, and the images below show what fans of this sport have always known: For witnessing drama, suspense, electric energy and endless passion, there is nothing better than the athlete magic of athletics.

The drama, suspense, energy and passion—if you're not yet a fan of athletics, you're about to become one.

Incredible scenes from the 50th anniversary of the Pre Classic

Editor's Picks

Story Landing

Words and images: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://admin.about.nike.com/company/people/curtis-rowser-contributing-writer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Curtis Rowser</a>It's late July, but in America's South, the summer is just starting to heat up. Young hoopers dream about this exact moment and, for the nation's most elite, the annual moment has arrived again. In Augusta, South Carolina, Riverview Park Activities Center is brimming with the who's who of basketball royalty. NBA scouts by the dozen are dispersed throughout the gym, coaches like John Calipari, Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley grace the sidelines, and thousands more spectators flood the facility to capacity. Everyone's here for one reason: to witness the next crop of stars poised to define the game's future. This is Peach Jam, a crown jewel of grassroots basketball and the pinnacle of Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit—a summer-long gauntlet that brings together the best prospects from across the country, arming them with competition, exposure and resources no other platform can match.

Peach Jam is also an important piece in a larger ecosystem that Nike has carefully architected during the past few decades. The Swoosh has a mission to grow the game, and that extends far beyond crowning young champions in July and August. Chasing chips is an essential component for any sports brand, but more significant for Nike is the steady commitment to provide elite young hoopers with the stage, community and tools they need to write the game's future in real time.

That commitment juts up against a basketball culture that's changing in myriad ways on what seems like a daily basis. It used to be that only superstars in the ilk of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, A'Ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu were the ones who inspired the next generation of hoopers. Nowadays, a thumb-scroll through Instagram or TikTok brings viral highlights from packed-out high school gyms into living rooms across the world. Kids argue over, say, top high school prospects Tyran Stokes and Brandon McCoy as enthusiastically as the generation before them argued over Russ and CP3. High school phenoms, and even middle school prodigies, are entering the cultural conversation and becoming household names earlier than ever. Stardom isn't a finishing line anymore, it's a starting point.

Nike's grassroots basketball strategy begins first with pinpointing these elite athletes as early as possible, and second serving them with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/kevin-durant-interview-nike-eybl-grassroots-basketball" target="_blank">best-in-class resources that keeps Nike in a league of their own</a>. As Karie Conner, Nike's VP/GM of Basketball and Kobe, puts it, "We have one muse in particular that we focus on: the one-of-one, the elite hooper, the top 1 percent of the top 1 percent", she says. "We've realised through all of our insights and research that they're the ones who actually inspire those who aspire to love the game, be a part of the game and be enveloped around the game".

Those insights come from a sharp focus that allows Nike to get really deep on what athletes need, Conner says. "It's not just about the product and the gear—it's about serving their needs, giving them the platforms, being a partner with them". At Peach Jam, that platform cuts through clearly. You see LA Clippers star Bradley Beal celebrating with his Bradley Beal Elite squad, having just helped coach them to the programme's first-ever championship. They were led by an MVP performance from five-star Arkansas commit JJ Andrews, who's now cemented his name alongside Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham, AJ Dybantsa and the other greats who've carved out their legacies at the game's toughest proving ground. BBE went the entire week without their full roster, at times only having six players available. But every minute, every possession, the team reflected the mantra that hangs from the banners surrounding the gym: No excuses. Just banners. Indeed, this week in Augusta will go down in the history books.

NY vs NY

After Peach Jam, Nike's hoops pipeline stretches north, where another battleground awaits: Victory Park in New York City, home to Nike's NY vs NY finale. It's mid-August and summer has hit its full stride. New York City's top prospects, girls and boys, have represented their boroughs in a summer-long tournament that unfolds on some of the game's most iconic courts—West 4th, Dyckman, Rucker Park. Where Peach Jam, and the EYBL circuit in general, is polished and meticulously orchestrated, NY vs NY is pulsing with a raw, unfiltered energy that's more rough around the edges. That's by design, and another avenue to advance Nike's mission. "We can't forget the communities", Conner tells me. "We have to make sure to build this connective tissue so that we don't have anything that's in isolation or of itself".&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is the seventh season that Nike has run NY vs NY, and it's only getting bigger. Throughout the summer, NBA superstars such as Luka Dončić, Ja Morant and Jalen Brunson have made their way out to games. The stakes are different from during the live recruiting period—but that doesn't mean they're any less. NY vs NY is more personal. Here, players carry the weight of local pride. And it's never lost on them that they're hand-selected to represent the Swoosh. "Being looked at with Nike, that's a blessing for real", says Jermel Thomas, Dyckman's four-star point guard and Saint Louis University commit ahead of the NY vs NY championship. "You see the top players in the NBA with Nike—Kevin Durant, Giannis—so being a part of that, and seeing that they're showing me love, you couldn't ask for anything more than that". Jermel wears the Bronx on his back and is one of the most exciting players in the country, hence his nickname "Magic Mel". He's the embodiment of the "elite hooper" that Karie Conner speaks of. As he navigates Victory Park, kids watch his every move. His trademark hi-top fade and 6-foot-3 frame are hard to miss. In the semifinals against Brooklyn's Team Gersh—with 1,000-plus fans sitting shoulder-to-shoulder around the court and more spectators spilling onto the upper level outside the park—Magic Mel put on an absolute show, willing his Dyckman squad to a two-point win and clinching a spot in the championship.&nbsp; Alas, the final game wasn't his night. Jermel and co. eventually fall short in the chip. He's upset, but still walking with his head high, confidence unfazed, seeming to understand that wins and losses are just the backdrop to a much bigger picture.

Meanwhile, the West 4th girls celebrate winning the championship. The squad was led by their MVP five-star Maryland commit, Jordyn Jackson. The D.C. native is one of the few players not from New York City that Nike invited to play in NY vs NY—and she didn't come to fit in. Jordyn commands much of the attention, and rightfully so. The way she carries herself, the way the ball finds her hands, the way her teammates' confidence ticks up a few notches when she's on the court, it's evident Jordyn was built for this.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her teammate Ava Thomas quickly reminds you that Nike's elite athletes aren't a monolith. Ava is one of the best guards in New York City, a killer in her own right—just with a completely different approach. "A lot of people focus on scoring, and that's important", she says, "but focusing on little things, playing defence, talking to your teammates, bringing the energy, that's really important too. And obviously, off the court, being a great student".

Ava was recently recognised by the Naismith Foundation as one of the top student-athletes in the country. And thanks in part to her showing on the Nike summer circuit, she just committed to Quinnipiac University after fielding offers from Dartmouth, Lafayette and American, among a handful of others. "To be just 17, it's a great feeling that your work could pay off. I've been working hard and, to get recognised by Nike at this age, it's something really special", she says. For Ava, though, being acknowledged by Nike as a standout among her peers is more than a stamp of approval. It's a thread running through her story. Her first vivid Nike memory is tethered to one of the most heartbreaking days in basketball. On the same day the world lost Kobe Bryant, Ava slipped into her first pair of Kobes. What should've been a moment of joy became something deeper, heavier—a reminder of how greatness can inspire even in its absence.

Mamba League Invitational

Which leads us to Los Angeles. A few weeks after NY vs NY, Kobe's legacy is on full display at the Mamba League Invitational, where Nike has created a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNweIH7QgEn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="">remarkable</a> makeshift outdoor basketball court at LA Live, right in front of Crypto Arena. For the third consecutive year, the brand has invited the top boys and girls from across the nation to show the world why they'll be the next hoopers to inspire the world the way Kobe does. The kids arrive in LA and the sun is blazing, the temperature is in the 90s. The court is jam-packed with fans of all ages and backgrounds. Vanessa Bryant and Rob Pelinka sit courtside, their eyes glued to the talent on the floor carrying on the Mamba's legacy.

Kobe's aura permeates the atmosphere. While NY vs NY feels like a celebration of the essence of the game, Mamba League feels like a tribute to the responsibility that comes with being great, of what it means to carry a Kobe-like standard forwards.&nbsp; That feeling crystallises as both the boys and girls Mamba League Invitational champions hoist their trophies at centre court, handed to them by Vanessa Bryant. The kids beam with elation, taking selfies, recording reels, trophies raised high—and there's subtext too: this is about much more than hardware or sneakers.

One truth that's revealed through <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/paige-bueckers-exclusive-interview" target="_blank">these grassroots platforms</a>, whether it's the heat of NY vs NY, the magnitude of Peach Jam or the reverence of Mamba League, is that today's young athletes carry different needs than even a few years ago. The game has evolved, and so have the pressures, opportunities and demands that come with chasing it.&nbsp; "They need support along their entire journey", Conner says. "It's not just giving them the best gear that's going to make them the best on the court. It's supporting them with player development, it's&nbsp;helping them with mentorship. We can leverage so many of our [NBA and WNBA] athletes who want to be mentors and to pour and invest into them. We have an opportunity to give them everything they need to be successful in the game". This is why you see Chris Paul and Bradley Beal on the benches with their coaches' polos on. And why you see Ja Morant talking to his EYBL Jr Twelve Time programme after a tough loss. And why Nike set up a state-of-the-art recovery suite at the teams' hotel in Augusta. No stone is left unturned.

And while Nike remains the global leader in building infrastructure, creating access and shaping culture, their commitment is averse to complacency. "We might be at the top, but we have to stay hungry. The future of the game is now, and we have to continue thinking about the areas where we can grow the game and expand it to the younger generation so that they're growing and in the game in the right ways". says Connor. "We also have to continue to focus on the girls' game and invest, elevate and expand there. That's where our heads are at". At LA Live, it's time to clear the court. The bleachers empty, the crowd begins to filter out, the sounds of the game fade. Just beyond the gates, Kobe's bronze statue glows against the night sky, a reminder that greatness is never past tense. Summer with Nike Basketball may be over but, in the words of the late great Black Mamba, the job's not finished.

Curtis&nbsp;Rowser III is an Atlanta-based journalist who covers basketball, rap, culture, travel and lifestyle. His words and photos have appeared in&nbsp;SLAM,&nbsp;BET,&nbsp;TimeOut,&nbsp;Epicenter-NYC,&nbsp;Brooklyn Magazine,&nbsp;AmNY and others. He's a former Division I basketball player, and has since earned a master's in sports industry management from Georgetown&nbsp;and&nbsp;a second master's in journalism from NYU.

Curtis Rowser

True support for young basketball athletes goes beyond gifting gear. To elevate players and the game, Nike's created a deep network of platforms, mentorships and opportunities—and there's no better way to see the effects than through this summer's grassroots tourney play.

Feature

Beyond the buzzer: how Nike is fuelling the next era of elite hoopers

After raising his hands in disbelief when he crossed the tape at the US Nationals, Cooper Lutkenhaus knew exactly where to look. His entire immediate family were scattered along the rail of University of Oregon's Hayward Field, strategically choosing their spots to encourage him while he ran the 800m final. His mum, Tricia, filming his race like she'd done for years, was standing a few rows above the starting line. His middle brother Andrew was at the 200m mark, his oldest brother George Jr was at the 300 and his dad, George Sr, was at the 100m home straight. They had just watched Cooper run a 1:42.27—the fourth fastest time for an American and one of the greatest performances by a high schooler ever.&nbsp;After that performance, Lutkenhaus is running towards many things. This month, he'll race in Tokyo as the youngest American in history to compete at the World Athletics Championships. He'll don the Swoosh for the first time as a professional Nike athlete, the partnership signed in late August. The contract means that Cooper, now a few weeks into his junior year (year 12), will forgo his remaining high school athletics eligibility to race with the greats. Away from Tokyo, he's a leader among his peers, particularly in his time attending Northwest High in Texas, a responsibility he took more seriously after his involvement in the Nike Elite Programme, which he joined as a freshman (year 10). Here, Cooper shares his thoughts on leadership, mentorship and what it means to run for family. Being the youngest brother helps keep you grounded once you reach a certain level of success. Growing up, me and my brothers were always trying to outdo each other. Who could run fastest? Who could get the highest grades? Being the youngest sibling, I didn't win many of those competitions, but it also gave me a drive to compete every single day.I'm lucky, because it's not necessarily a given that you and your siblings are each other's biggest fans. George swims collegiately and Andrew runs collegiately, and we all want the best for each other. They were my biggest support system when I competed at US Nationals. Having them in my corner has been so important to my development over these last few years.&nbsp;You can't help but grow as a leader when you're surrounded by a certain skill level. The Nike Elite Programme was a huge point of growth for me. I came in at the end of my freshman year in 2023 and I went on two different cohort trips, where the 40 athletes all trained together. I was the youngest guy on the roster that freshman year. I didn't talk too much. Then, my sophomore year when I went up there, I talked a lot more. I think a lot of people would tell you that I grew a lot last year. That was thanks in large part to the company I was surrounded by. Even though we're all different ages and we compete in different races, we're able to learn from each other and from the coaching staff.

You can see it in a runner's eyes when they're representing something a little more than just themselves. Getting to watch those of us from the Elite programme go back home to compete in meets, you see a standard of leadership they bring back to their high school meets. You can see it in their eyes when they're racing. It's almost like a responsibility. I feel like you see it with every Nike athlete. Donavan Brazier at USAs for example—when he came across the line, you could see it on his face after he won. Being an athlete for Nike and being a leader at Nike go hand in hand. Going to the Nike Elite Programme and coming back to my school, I felt like I became a much stronger leader.Leadership is shown through both words and actions. I've felt a boost in confidence in being a leader to my peers at Northwest. I've always felt leading by action in important, but I do think I've become more vocal because of the Elite programme. I've made more of an effort, trying to help my underclassmen teammates as much as possible. My sophomore season last year, we had a freshman come in who I took under my wing, and he's been running really, really strong lately. I tried soaking in everything I admired when I went on those Elite trips and tried modelling it at our high school programme.&nbsp;At this point, my goals are day by day. I'm really excited for Worlds. I want to see how far I can make it through the rounds. And then, if I make the final … you never know. Especially at an event like Worlds, you never know what could happen.&nbsp;I'm representing Northwest High School just as much as I'm representing Team USA. But no matter what, I'm always representing my family. They've sacrificed so much for me to be able to get to where I am. I want to do them proud.&nbsp;

The 16-year-old half-miler will run in Tokyo as Team USA's youngest-ever competitor, but his capacity as a leader has been long in the making.

How I got here

Cooper Lutkenhaus is already leading the pack

Words: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/rachel-cavanaugh-contributing-writer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Rachel Cavanaugh</a> Portraits: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/vivian-kim-contributing-photographer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Vivian Kim</a>When Maria Sharapova stepped onto the court at the 2006 US Open wearing a little black dress that shimmered under the lights, it was a moment tennis had never seen before.Trimmed with crystals and tailored with precision, the Nike ensemble merged sport and fashion in a way that hadn't been done on that stage, at that level—bold, unapologetic and impossible to ignore. The dress wasn't just a look. It was a statement.Designed by Martin Lotti, Nike's then global creative director for women's training, "The Dress" quickly became a cultural flashpoint: proof that performance wear could carry elegance and personality without sacrificing function.

"At the time, sport and fashion weren't as intertwined as they are today", Lotti recalls. "That blending of worlds was still very new. That dress helped establish a new intersection, one that now defines the modern landscape of tennis apparel. I like to call it 'unexpected performance'. It looked like a dress but it was built to perform at the highest level. The message: you don't have to compromise style to achieve performance".Now, nearly 20 years later, Sharapova is returning to the court in another black dress, this time as an inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Once again, Nike is dressing her for the moment.

"It's a full-circle moment not just for me personally but for Nike", Lotti says. "To be part of her journey from that win to her induction into the Hall of Fame, it's incredible".To celebrate a partnership that has spanned nearly two decades, Lotti—now Nike's chief design officer—and his team have reimagined the original dress for the occasion. The most iconic details remain—the rounded neckline, the striking black silhouette, the subtle shimmer—but&nbsp;this version has been refined with a longer hemline and pleated skirt to suit the tone of the evening.The new look also includes a series of personal touches: five stars etched into the dress to represent Maria's Grand Slam titles; a sleek, tailored jacket fastened with a custom button computationally designed from an algorithm based on her son's birthday; a modernised metallic hairpiece;&nbsp;a wraparound Swoosh bracelet&nbsp;and a custom expression of Nike's Shox Z, a new sportswear silhouette launching later this year.

Together, the pieces form a head-to-toe look rooted in legacy, honouring where the tennis legend has been while reflecting who she is today."We wanted to make that little black dress again, the same one people remembered but elevated for what this occasion means", Lotti explains. "She's not here to compete but to be celebrated. So we evolved it. We made it a bit more formal, a bit more reflective. We kept the soul of the original but designed it for now".

That soul—a&nbsp;balance of performance, style and story—has always been at the centre of Nike's partnership with Sharapova, who explains that seeing the new design brought back memories of the original and everything that came along with it.&nbsp;"It was such a pivotal moment", Maria says. "I remember the first time that I tried the dress. It felt so special. It was something I felt truly confident in. I could move freely and it was like an extension of my style, but it served a very athletic purpose. I could do all the movements that it required me to do but yet I felt very elegant and strong".That duality—elegance alongside strength—continues to define Sharapova's signature style today. As an athlete, business owner and mother, she tends to gravitate toward timeless pieces that blend confidence, comfort and purpose."I still wear pieces that I've had for years", she says. "I think there's something beautiful about having that special sweater or special dress that you just know will make you feel like who you are. It's a part of your identity. This black dress is very much like that".

She remembers how, at the time, yes, the dress did more than turn heads. It also challenged expectations—not&nbsp;only of what athletes could wear but how they could show up on the court. Lotti agrees, noting that it was a bold step into uncharted territory."Playing in that dress, Maria was powerful and graceful", he says. "It broke stereotypes, showing that. You didn't have to be just one thing. You could be both".

And that's when Nike is at its best, Lotti says—when it challenges the status quo. "The best projects are the ones where we're trying something new. Something that's never been done", he says. "That's when Nike reinvents itself, pushes the athlete and pushes sport forward".Ultimately, the dress, both then and now, stands as a testament to the brand's enduring relationship—with Sharapova and with all of its athletes.&nbsp;"We say our athletes are family", Lotti says. "And this is what that means. Their dreams become our dreams. We're there for the highs and the lows. We're there when no one's watching and we're there when the whole world is".

In 2006, Maria Sharapova wore a bespoke Nike LBD on the court that proved you don't have to sacrifice style for performance. To celebrate her 2025 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, we made her a new one.

Making it

The legacy of Maria Sharapova's little black tennis dress

For almost 50 years, Nike's made magic by taking the most basic of elements—air—and optimising it to help athletes perform at their peak. Now, the company's hit a new milestone in innovation, this time in materials: Nike Radical AirFlow, debuted in this summer's trail running season. Building on its rich legacy in performance apparel, Nike scientists, designers and developers asked how they could create apparel that harnesses air around a runner in motion to help keep them cool.&nbsp;Trail running is one of the most extreme sports in which to test the efficacy of performance apparel. The tests of the sport are nearly unclassifiable. Trail running races can span one-kilometre vertical climbs to multi-day staged events across inhospitable conditions. Case in point: the iconic 100-mile race based in California's Sierra Nevada mountains frequently reaches temperatures over 38 degrees Celsius, while runners are surmounting altitude changes of more than 18,000 feet (5,500 metres) of elevation gain and 23,000 feet (7,000 metres) of elevation loss in the race. High heat and humidity not only hinder an athlete's performance, but raise the risk of injury or even illness.&nbsp;Trail athletes are familiar with this arena of extremes, and to keep a competitive edge, they've developed their own hacks to stay cool. Draping ice-cold towels across their necks. Lying down in a stream or lake, mid-course, like a child in a paddling pool. Even shedding layers along the course.

But what if the make of the apparel itself could be part of the solution? Cross-disciplinary teams at Nike, many of whom are trail runners themselves, explored the question, setting out to create garments that could help the body maximise its natural cooling mechanisms.&nbsp;"An athlete's sweat evaporation plays a significant role in helping cool the body", says Jahan Behbahany, senior director, Nike Apparel Innovation. "We were interested in a material that could accelerate the velocity of airflow to skin and help speed up that evaporative cooling process. We knew we had the people, the tools and the resources to develop it".

The solution would be far from Nike's first success in maximising airflow for athletes. The company's intensive study of the aerodynamics of pacing helped lead to two of the most influential running record attempts of the last decade: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/inside-look-at-nike-breaking2-project" target="_blank">Eliud Kipchoge's historic marathon quests</a> in 2017 and 2019, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/topics/breaking4" target="_blank">Faith Kipyegon's inspiring attempt</a> to run a four-minute mile. In performance apparel, Nike athletes and coaches have iterated on all-over mesh materials to promote airflow in hot conditions, from Nike Stand-Off to Nike Dri-FIT. Nike scientists, designers and developers carry deep knowledge of how apparel can be the great separator for athletes reaching their potential. Understanding the extreme conditions in which trail athletes compete, they knew they needed to find a new solution to help promote airflow against the body.After rethinking traditional mesh and ventilation options, the team hypothesised that engineered airducts throughout the garment could capture air, speed it up and funnel it through the garment's holes towards the skin. As the athlete runs forwards, the material would accelerate the velocity of the airflow to the skin and help promote evaporative cooling. In other words, speed up your body's natural sweat evaporation.Nike's cross-disciplinary teams were focused on creating a breathable material that would allow for ideal construction of the airducts while ensuring maximum comfort and minimal distractions. The teams were inspired by the Bernoulli Principle of fluid dynamics, specifically the&nbsp;Venturi Effect—when a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe, it sees an increase in velocity and a drop in pressure. Every element from material selection to the engineered knit construction was considered, studied and tested to promote and increase airflow to the skin.

The new material is an engineered knit with hydrophilic chemistry to help manage moisture and enhance the sensation of airflow. The airducts accelerate airflow from the front of the material towards the skin. Nike researchers discovered that placing a series of "dimples" on the back side of the garment (skin-facing side) to complement each airduct improved the duration of the circulation at the skin level."We tried all kinds of airduct configurations, sizes and zonal placements throughout the testing and development", says Behbahany. "We found that a funnel-shaped construction of larger to smaller gradient holes, uniformly placed, would best 'funnel' and accelerate air to the skin".When considering the garment in which to house the material, the team chose a long-sleeve top to cover as much of the body's surface area as possible, and promote as much airflow as possible across the body. To help ensure comfort while runners spent hours on the trail, designers left large cut-outs under the arms to offer mobility and reduce weight, with construction and trims to help reduce chafing in high-friction and high-sweat areas.

With airducts zonally placed throughout the garments, larger ventilation at the underarm and arm bend were added to maximise mobility and airflow, and to help reduce the risk of chafing.

The top features a cropped hem to help minimise garment weight, allow for greater air through the lower abdomen and allow easy access to the waist belt.

The teams were committed to testing the new material rigorously over two years, both in the field and in controlled research settings. They brought prototypes to Northern California for&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-acg-all-conditions-racing-department" target="null">All Conditions Racing Department athletes</a>&nbsp;to put through the region's extreme conditions and give their feedback. The runners were floored by how cool and breathable the garment was, telling the teams that it gave a cool, breezy sensation against their skin unlike any top they'd ever worn. Back at the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) at Nike World Headquarters, Nike used its in-house climate chambers to observe how the material performed in controlled, yet gruelling settings. All Conditions Racing Department athletes would filter through the NSRL to test out the prototypes. The parameters for testing simulated the kinds of dramatic temperature climbs that trail runners face at notoriously hot races.&nbsp;In the NSRL, athletes tested lightweight Dri-FIT and Radical AirFlow garments in environmental climate chamber simulations to assess how Radical AirFlow compared against Nike's tried-and-tested material technology. From these tests, Nike scientists learned that when compared to Dri-FIT, Radical AirFlow prototypes absorbed and retained 50% less sweat after prolonged running in the heat. Additional testing on&nbsp;thermal manikins&nbsp;showed that the prototypes were substantially more breathable and 25% less resistant to the evaporation of sweat, when compared to Dri-FIT.

As one of the largest field test initiatives in Nike Running history, members of the All Conditions Racing Department will continue to test the prototype throughout the 2025 elite season. Nike designers, for their part, will continue to track feedback from in-race and lab testing to refine the garment as it readies for a 2026 retail launch.&nbsp;The opportunity to develop materials that harness airflow across the body will only grow more salient as global temperatures rise, and across different sports, not just on the trail. Mastering air, in all its forms, has been a fixture in Nike's product history since the inception of the first Air bag. Which makes the future of Radical AirFlow so bright.&nbsp;"We can't wait to apply what we're learning with our ACRD athletes to how we solve athlete problems in other sports", says Behbahany. "Our investment for finding what's next in this kind of apparel innovation is unmatched. Between our athletes, our innovators and our resources, we're finding new cooling solutions for athletes to perform at their best, whatever their sport and wherever they play it".

The material innovation harnesses the power of the air moving around you to help maximise your body's natural cooling mechanisms.

Nike Radical AirFlow debuts a new era of breathable apparel

While most of us got through our early years in secondary school trying to blend in, Jane Hedengren remembers wanting to leave her mark: breaking her school's record in the mile. She was 12 years old, new to organised track and intent on sealing the record by the end of the school year. Her father, John, took her to a university track on a cold autumn afternoon for 400-metre repeats to test her capacity. She was trying and failing to hit her splits. That's when John, a former runner at Brigham Young University (BYU), joined her for the workout, cutting through the chilly, high desert air, pulling up the pace but staying near enough to encourage Jane as she willed herself forward. She'd eventually hit those splits, and she'd later break her school's record that spring.&nbsp;Now out of secondary school, Jane Hedengren has established herself as one of the most accomplished amateur distance runners in American history. She arguably had the most dominant secondary school season ever in 2024, male or female, breaking nine secondary school records spanning the mile to the 5K. She'd be the first to say that she hasn't accomplished these feats alone.&nbsp;Along with her family's support, Jane's teammates include those coaches and runners from the Nike Elite Programme, which invites 40 of the nation's top runners to experience the comprehensive training tools provided by Nike coaches all year long, culminating in some of the nation's preeminent meets during the cross-country, indoor and outdoor seasons. All seasons in which Jane dominated.Here, in her own words, she speaks to how that support has set her up for a professional running future and for starting her own university running career at BYU in the autumn.

The indoor and outdoor seasons give you many opportunities to prove yourself. Nike Indoor Nationals this year was special, because I was able to run the 5K for the first time on the track. I had to put myself out there.Good coaches can turn a phrase and get you motivated. During that Nike Indoor Nationals meet, one of my coaches from the Nike Elite Programme, Juli Benson, told me, "I know you're in a good spot. Let's see if you're in a great spot". Then it was like the lesson my dad taught me: you'll see once you're in that last 2K of the race. I was able to close out hard. A lot of good stuff can come from having an open mind and getting the most out of yourself.&nbsp;This year was a season of firsts. Last autumn was my first time at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/nike-cross-nationals-2024-official-images" target="null">Nike Cross Nationals</a>. It was really exciting to feel as fresh as I did on race day. The field was strong, so I wanted to stay patient, because the course with the weather conditions can be unforgiving. I kept steady early on and maintained my pace. It's special to finish a race and not expect that level of performance out of yourself.

I love how running has different disciplines within it. Cross-country and track are special in their own right, and they're so different. I love how the competition of cross-country takes place in this long, tough terrain. It embodies what running is all about: being out in nature, competing with other runners. Track is really fun for me. It's a bit quicker, and competition also plays a role, but there's a certain thing to be said about trying to hit certain times. You're also able to use a variety of distances as a guardrail to monitor how you're feeling.&nbsp;Your performances aren't the only part of your racing that evolves. Your training changes, too. Strength training has been a big part of my development process. Early on, I was running around 30 miles a week, doing some light workouts here and there with some cross-training. As the years have gone on, I've upped the intensity and volume. This last season, I was doing up to 55 miles a week while doing more intense workouts and feeling good and strong. I think I realised I had a talent probably right around year 11 of secondary school. I had been working and staying more consistent. Plus, no matter how I performed, I always had a love for running. I loved the freedom it afforded me. I could get away from my life's stresses and have this thing I could work toward and use to discover more about myself. That happened as soon as I started running, and it's evolved as I've gotten older and have been more in touch with the sport.&nbsp;

You can always find a new challenge to overcome as you get older. I'm really excited for this next chapter with BYU. I'm open to trying new distances, racing against different competition. I want to try it all. It's great that university isn't just a one-off experience. You learn these lessons over time. I'll have time to get a hold of things, find my rhythm and routine, get to know my teammates, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/women-running-culture-mumbai-india-nike-after-dark-tour" target="null">Coach Diljeet Taylor</a> and the other staff.&nbsp;I've been really careful about thinking too far ahead. People will ask me about aspirations like medalling in the Olympics or finding a prominence on the world stage. Those goals are incredible, obviously, and I'm working toward them, but the truth is, I don't know where I'll be in a few years. What I can focus on right now is keeping myself healthy, enjoying the sport and loving those around me.&nbsp;I'm taking things one step at a time.&nbsp;

Proving her talent across Nike's cross-country, indoor and outdoor championships, Hedengren finished her secondary school career as one of the most accomplished middle- and long-distance runners of all time.

Indoors and out, runner Jane Hedengren is rewriting history

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray is having a banner year. The WNBA All-Star starter is posting career highs in the 2025 season in points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers made and minutes played, in which she leads the league. But even more impressive than her stats is the manner in which she makes versatility look totally natural. Name the players who have averaged 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and at least two three-pointers per game in a season. She's the only one. During the 2024 All-Star Weekend, she won both the Skills Challenge and the Three-Point Contest, a double victory she'll defend in Indianapolis starting tonight. She's already off to a hot start. On Friday morning, after her team's training, she won a half-court shot contest. As basketball's talent level rises across the board, both in the women's and the men's game, Gray is proof that you don't need to sacrifice one skillset to evolve the others. If you're going to win in this era of basketball, better competition requires a better game, in every way.We spoke with Allisha about her excellent year, where she developed her commitment to a well-rounded game and her take on her role in a stacked league.&nbsp;

The past off-season was perfect to make leaps in my game. I was really locked in to develop my one-on-one play. The Unrivaled league was ideal, because you're going head to head against some of the league's best players, so you have to be able to create your own shot. And defensively, you have no choice but to step up. Nine times out of ten, you're on an island, so you don't have any help. Your individual defence needs to be strong.My toughness was being shaped before I even played basketball. I mainly grew up with my two brothers. Playing outside in the backyard, I learned how to stand my ground against them. Every game we played was competitive, to the point where my parents would need to separate us so we wouldn't go at each other.In basketball, if you're outmatched, you need to figure out your edge. I was never going to overpower my brothers. But I could outwork them and outsmart them. When I started beating them in one-on-one and shootouts, that's when I started earning their respect.&nbsp;I view winning literally. I'm so competitive, victory means winning over someone else. Winning the Georgia state championship in high school was the moment when that was solidified for me. We went undefeated that year. It's not only that we won—we didn't lose, to anyone.&nbsp;

Growing up in a military household, you don't have any excuse for giving less than your best effort. My dad was in the army. It was "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am" for as long as I could remember. He was my basketball coach until I went off to college. I'd be in a hard workout, and he'd tell me, "I'm not gonna let you fall short of your expectations in front of me". Did I mention he was my principal at school? [Laughs.] It was a tough environment, but now that I'm older, I know he had a vision for what I could accomplish.Scoring isn't everything. It's crazy to me how a lot of people focus on the points that a player puts up, and nothing else. You can impact the game in so many different ways. Why wouldn't you train to get better in every area?My go-to Nike product? That's easy. My goggles! I started wearing them after I got an eye injury during a 3x3 game. I've worn them ever since.The league is stacked. You can't take your talent for granted. You have so many elite players who are working on their craft. It makes playing in the All-Star Game so meaningful, knowing that you're mentioned in those same ranks.&nbsp;I'm not giving any ground in the Skills Comp or the Three-Point Contest this year. I'm focusing on both again this weekend—I&nbsp;won't limit myself to one or the other. I'm confident, and I'm feeling fit and ready. Then again, with how many minutes I'm playing this year, I was gonna get in shape, right?&nbsp;

The Atlanta Dream guard is having a season that epitomises a well-rounded player. That's not just a product of the talent level across the W, but of her lifelong work ethic.

For the win

Allisha Gray is levelling up her game—all of it

KARINA, a member of the South Korean pop group aespa, officially joins the Nike family this month. The small steps that have led to the group's success—consistent hard work, sacrifice and the dedication to push through obstacles—reflect the same mindset that an athlete needs to succeed, says KARINA.We spoke with the 25-year-old artist about why taekwondo has been a lifelong instructive sport, how the Air Max Muse pairs with practically everything and why partnering alongside Nike was a natural fit.

What's your defining Nike memory?&nbsp;As a child, I loved watching TV. It was where I first saw musical artists perform, and it fuelled in me a dream to become one of the stars on that stage, who were always wearing Nikes on their feet. That was when my connection with Nike began. The brand is like second nature to me now. I'll rock the Air Force 1 without thinking twice.What's your earliest memory of sport?&nbsp;Growing up, I was exposed to many sports, including ballet, swimming, futsal, basketball and taekwondo, in which I earned a black belt. As you level up while earning more belts, you grow in both athletic skill and the athlete mindset. It's in that mindset that you learn patience, you gain respect for the process and you develop a can-do spirit. Even now, with my packed schedule, those lessons from taekwondo are still with me. They're the foundation of my sport background, helping me stay focused no matter what situations I face or decisions I make.What similarities do you see in your background as an athlete and an entertainer?I believe that anyone who uses their body to move with passion and gives their best effort is an athlete. What athletes and entertainers have in common is how they pour countless hours into a defining moment, like a performance. While entertainers give their all on stage, athletes push their limits in pursuit of victory. Compared to the glorious moments of winning or performing, the hours of practice or rehearsals aren't that glamorous. Athletes and entertainers need endurance to reach their goals, but the result is so worth it in the end.&nbsp;

What's your most memorable Nike shoe or piece of apparel?&nbsp;It's not an exaggeration to say that I've grown up with the Air Force 1 and the Dunk. My favourite Nike shoe right now is the&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/air-max-muse-official-images" target="null">Nike Air Max Muse</a>&nbsp;in the silver colourway. I first tried them during a short trip around Europe after Milan Fashion Week. What I love most about them, aside from the comfort, is how it can elevate my whole outfit. I can pair it with a leather jacket and jeans. How could I not fall in love with a shoe like that?&nbsp;What are you most looking forward to in partnering with Nike?&nbsp;Nike empowers self-expression and encourages people to challenge stereotypes and forge new paths. If you're confident in your dreams, you should keep pushing forward. Hopefully my journey combined with Nike's message can inspire more people and bring positive influence to the world.

The 25-year-old artist on her black belt in taekwondo, how the Air Max Muse pairs with everything and why partnering with Nike was a natural fit.

Welcome to the family

5 questions with K-pop star KARINA

Words: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/davis-jones-senior-editor" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Davis Jones</a> Images: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/cameron-strand-contributing-photographer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Cameron Strand</a>To fully understand the look on Niels Laros's face after narrowly clinching this year's Bowerman Mile in Eugene, you have to go back to the ringing of the bell lap, when he still trailed the race leader, American Yared Nuguse, by more than three seconds.In front of a sold-out crowd in Eugene, Ore. at the 50th&nbsp;Pre Classic, the 20-year-old Dutch runner tapped into his own brand of Hayward magic. He separated himself from the chase pack with 400m to go. Then, at the final 200m mark, he took off for Nuguse, running an unthinkable 25.9 second split and making up an almost 8-metre gap in the home straight. The two racers lunged at the finishing line. A few seconds later, Laros saw the official time, wearing a look of disbelief: 3:45.94. He'd won the Bowerman Mile by one-one-hundredth of a second and set a new Dutch national record. His final lap—53.3—was one of the fastest fourth laps since the United Kingdom's Steve Cram broke the world record in 1985."Man, that Hayward magic is real", says Laros. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime feeling to experience a race like that".For 25 years, the Bowerman Mile has brought together the world's most talented milers, assembling pros, world champions and Olympic medallists. The event is one of four premier mile races left in the world: the Dream Mile in Oslo, the Wanamaker Mile in New York City and&nbsp;&nbsp;the Mile Invitational in Iowa. Of those, it's produced more sub-4-minute miles than any other race, counting 418 such performances to date, including this year's race in Eugene.&nbsp;Speaking of which, the 2025 race was arguably the deepest mile race in history, featuring the most men in one race under 3:50 (13), 3:49 (9) and 3:48 (8).What makes the Bowerman Mile stand apart? Fast times don't always correlate to a fast track. The latter can be an immeasurable mix of qualities tied to time, place and circumstances, leading to generational performances. But talk to anyone who's competed in the race and they'll tell you there's something different about the Bowerman Mile.&nbsp;

The competitive field

Year after year, the Bowerman Mile draws a stacked line-up, assembled of reigning world champions and record holders. Since 2000, it's taken a time of 3:51.84 or faster to win the event. The race's buy-in is all the more impressive considering that its results don't count towards points at the end of the pro circuit, even though it's classified as a Diamond League meet.A runner who always circles the date of the Bowerman Mile is Australia's Cam Myers, who finished sixth this year and set an Australian under-20 record with 3:47.50. In 2023, at just 16 years old, Myers ran as a pacemaker for Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who clocked the Bowerman Mile's fastest-ever time in 3:43.73, setting a European and Diamond League record."We all want to win this race in particular", says Myers. "It's intensely competitive, and it's the perfect environment for fast times".Whether or not a record falls at the Bowerman Mile, each year's race teases out greatness in every runner, carrying the makings of a personal best.

Grant Fisher, who holds the American record in the 2-mile distance, ran his first Bowerman Mile this year, laying down a 3:48.29. The race is a self-fulfilling prophecy, he says. When racers know they are surrounded by a fast field, they all raise their game. Plus, the Bowerman Mile is almost always rabbited, or led by a pacemaker. Runners know they'll get wrenched to their physical thresholds. Once the pacemaker drops out, there's no time to think. Just go."We all know the pacer is going to take us deep into the race", Fisher says. "When the pacer drops, the field is of such high quality that these amazing times just keep rolling".

Consider one of the Bowerman Mile's most memorable performances—when Alan Webb, then a secondary school student from Virginia, broke the national secondary school mile record set by Jim Ryun, which had stood for 37 years. The pacemaker took the first 409 metres at a searing 54.6, equivalent to a mile pace of 3:34.8.At the race's halfway mark, Webb had moved up from last place to 13th. The pace was brutal and yet, with 400m to go, Webb remembers how his body felt loose, light and capable of much, much more. He began picking runners off on the back straight. His turnover cycled with a power that outlasted men a decade older, who had competed for medals, who had set national records.&nbsp;"Sometimes, the stars align in a race, and I knew this was one of those moments", says Webb, recalling the moment. "When I got to that bell lap, I was able to find something in myself. Running the Bowerman Mile has that effect on people".

The historic location

The grandeur of the former Hayward Field, with its wooden grandstands and its Bowerman Building as the sentinel watching from the track's eastern end, is different from how a spectator would describe the view from the updated stadium—a colossal venue built for the modern age. Webb remembers while he was barrelling down the back straight in 2001 how the extreme slope of the west grandstands gave the feeling that the fans "were right on top of you". The passion and knowledge of the fans sitting in those seats rivals any location in athletics.&nbsp;

"Even before Prefontaine, Oregon had a history of domestic milers who were very, very good; people like James Bailey, Dyrol Burleson and Jim Grelle back in the Bowerman coaching days", says Pat Tyson, who ran for the University of Oregon in the early '70s, where he was roommates with Pre himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The mile always had a cachet among fans here, even before the Bowerman Mile officially began".

Hayward Field is a place where fans take on the role of engaged sports scientist versus passive spectator. They'll set their personal stopwatches to the smoke of the gun and scribble a runner's splits in the margins of their programme.&nbsp;Kaarin Knudson knows. She ran for UO's athletics & cross-country team from 1994 to 1999. A seven-time NCAA qualifier who won the NCAA's Woman of the Year for Oregon in her senior season, she now serves as the mayor of Eugene. Her experience as a civic leader and a former athlete gives her a uniquely personal view on what makes Eugene's passion for athletics so special.

"I have distinct memories while at UO of going on my easy runs and being stopped by community members, people I didn't know; they'd congratulate me on a race I ran the previous weekend", says Knudson. "When you're an athlete, it's motivating to be surrounded by a community who both root for you on race day and who recognise you when you're 'offstage', so to speak".Few competitors benefit from the Hayward energy quite like those who ran for UO during their college years—runners like Cole Hocker, who's run his top three fastest mile times at the Pre Classic. During his rookie season in 2022, he donned the Nike kit in front of his home crowd for the first time at the Bowerman Mile. This year, he improved his personal best to 3:47.43."Every time I get the chance to run at Hayward, I remind myself to appreciate the moment, just because of the history that has happened there before me", says Hocker.&nbsp;

The special distance

The mile and its cousin, the 1500m, are separated by a little more than 100m. Depending on who you ask, the difference in how you run the mile compared with the 1500m is marginal. Webb jokes that you're basically doing the same event, but the mile comes down to "who's willing to suffer a little longer". Others, like Laros, say the tactical game of the mile is slightly different from the 1500m. For him, the main difference comes from the start.&nbsp;"Because you're starting on the opening curve in the mile, you have less time to figure out your position before you need to tuck into the right spot", says Laros. "You basically have to get shot out of a cannon and find a good slot so you're not sorting it out on the corner and running a little extra distance".The cultural power of the mile gives it a revered place in the consciousness of running, along with the marathon. Both are niche distances in athletics, yet still count for world records.&nbsp;The wonder of the mile might come down to its clean simplicity. Four laps. Taking the laps at one minute a piece add up to four minutes, considered the standard for the elite miler. The starting line is in roughly the same place as the finish. The same fans who cheer on the field at the gun are the same who cheer at the finish.&nbsp;

One could argue that the mile distance, in fact, was the spark that lit Bill Bowerman's fascination with long-distance running performance. As a freshman at Oregon playing American football, he met Ralph Hill, the first elite miler he befriended at the university. One day, Bowerman ran 400m around the track at an all-out sprint to test his speed. The clock read 63 seconds. Bill Hayward, UO's track coach, leaned over and smirked. "Just so you know", he said, "Ralph goes that fast for four laps".

Its relative scarcity at the professional level adds to the distance's mythical status. Pro runners don't get many opportunities to compete in the mile. You might get a couple of shots at it per year, between Eugene, Oslo and New York City."You can jump into plenty of 1500m races during the year. But it's no guarantee you'll get into one of these mile races on the pro circuit", says Webb. "That's assuming you're healthy when your name gets called. If you get a chance at the mile, you better put it all on the line".That motivation fuels every competitor in the Bowerman Mile. From the young racer who's travelling to Eugene for the first time, to the seasoned pro who wants to assert their world ranking, the Bowerman Mile summons a kind of communal willpower. For Laros, participation among those four laps, holding nothing back, is a rare privilege, one that can be tough to describe. Ironically, sometimes a fast time takes a backseat to the opportunity to step onto that 1609m starting line."Winning this race meant even more to me than setting the national record", he says. "Obviously, running a fast time gives me a lot of pride, but taking the win here, at this place, was what I'm most proud of".

The Bowerman Mile at the Pre Classic has produced more sub-4:00 times than any event in the world. Here's what makes it so fast.

Inside the world's fastest mile race

Images: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/sofieke-van-bilsen-contributing-photographer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Sofieke van Bilsen</a>Wherever you were watching Faith Kipyegon take to the track to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-athlete-faith-kipyegon-breaks-mile-record-time" target="_blank">break the 4-minute mile</a>—in standing-room-only crowds of employees at Nike's worldwide campuses, at watch parties in Chicago, Los Angeles, Eldoret, Kenya, on digital billboards in New York City, London and Mexico City, or gripping the edge of your seat inside Stade Charléty in Paris—the emotions of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/topics/breaking4" target="_blank">Breaking4</a> were palpable: excitement, nervousness, elation, pride.The images below reflect every feeling and show what athletics fans have always known: Faith Kipyegon is a champion. The team at Nike knows it too."I feel so proud of myself that I've tried", Faith said post-attempt. "Today was a learning lesson, that I have to give it my all, and that's what I did—&nbsp;I gave it my all. And it's shown me that everything is possible, and I think I've shown other women out there that can be true for them too. We have to push ourselves towards what we dream of and dare to try".Faith, we can't wait to see, and support, what you dare to try next.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Go trackside to see and feel the emotion from the champion's historic attempt.

Behind the scenes of Faith Kipyegon's Breaking4 attempt day

From the moment Faith Kipyegon broke the women's mile world record in Monaco in 2023, there was a palpable energy in the air, a sense that something bigger was beginning.&nbsp;As Nike Footwear Innovation Lead Carrie Dimoff puts it, "I'll never forget the feeling in the stadium. It was electric. Everyone was amazed but already starting to wonder: could this be the beginning of the sub-4-minute mile for women?" You could call that the start of Breaking4. But the essence of Faith Kipyegon and Nike's project is more timeless: showing all athletes* that barriers are meant to be pushed and dreams meant to be big. Says Faith, "I get motivated by thinking of what I can achieve, the boundaries I can break and how I can empower the next generation. You can't limit yourself. You have to go for that dream. I want to show women especially that anything is possible".Here, a visual chronicle of Faith and Nike's Breaking4 journey—and clear evidence of the power of daring to try. *If you have a body, you are an athlete.

A visual reflection on the shared goal—inspiring all athletes to dream big and break barriers—between the world's fastest woman miler and Nike.