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

About Nike—stories from inside NIKE, Inc.

If golfer Tony Finau had to name his Flu Game moment, it was during the 2018 Masters. He had just sunk a hole-in-one on the par-3 course at Augusta National. He celebrated by taking off sprinting towards the hole when, improbably, he took an awkward step and dislocated his left ankle (fair warning for anyone who wants to look up the video: it is gnarly). In grimacing pain but undeterred, he popped his ankle back into place himself and resumed play, where he'd complete the week with a top-10 finish. Oh, and two months later, he would make the final group at the US Open. And he'd qualify for his first Ryder Cup. All in a year when he could barely put any pressure on his left foot.Digging deep to test his physical limits is a signature quality of Finau, who joins Jordan Brand this month as the newest member of its golf roster. You wouldn't know any such challenge existed just by looking at him. The lithe 6'4" athlete has one of the most powerful drives on the pro tour, able to crush the ball at over 200mph since he was 17 years old. He was recruited for hoops out of secondary school, and he descends from a proud lineage of skilled Tongan and Samoan athletes, particularly in American football. When his personal calling to golf was too great to ignore, he worked as hard as possible to reach the sport's top level, rolling the dice by auditioning for a reality TV golf show and then undergoing a brutal mini-tour schedule for years that forced him to travel at a ruthless pace across the country. Was it worth it? No question. Below, Finau talks about the twists his career has taken, his moments of greatest perseverance and all things drive.&nbsp; Certain career moments cause you to flip your definition of what winning means. Take that Masters in 2018. It was an incredible moment, that hole-in-one, followed by the most embarrassing moment of my life on national TV. Fast forward to the end of the tournament. I birdied six out of my last seven holes. I shot 66 that Sunday. Walking off the 72nd hole, I truly felt like I won. I felt like somebody should've given me the Green Jacket. In life, we're going to fall down a lot more times than we're going to win. But does that actually mean that we lost? I don't look at it that way.

There'll be windows of your life where you need to gut it out just to see what you're really made of. I turned pro in 2007, but I didn't get onto the PGA Tour until 2013, so there was a six-year period where I had to tough it out on the Mini-Tour life and learn how to play the game, travel and take the small wins where I could. On the Mini-Tour, you're fighting for every dollar, your literal livelihood. There were plenty of nights I slept in my car and I went without eating just so I could scrape by. Those were some of the hardest years of my life, but also some of the greatest, because I learned what I can become with a little bit of sacrifice.&nbsp;Individual sports demand a certain kind of passion. In a sport like golf, you don't have any teammates to lean on. It's just you out there. Some people have a hard time without that team component, but when I started golfing at a young age, I found I really enjoyed the game's individual aspects. It was on me to figure it out, to piece together the ways I could improve. When I got on the golf course, it was a matter of locking in and learning how to focus.Composure has nothing to do with your athletic skill but has everything to do with the life of an athlete. My brother and I went on The Big Break, a reality TV competition on the Golf Channel, in 2009. I was 20 years old at the time. We were around the camera 24/7. Everywhere we went, they were recording us. It was crazy, and it took some getting used to, but I remember leaving that experience and telling myself, "You're going to be a great golfer. This media exposure is how it's going to be if you turn pro". Being on the show got me to the point where it didn't really matter who was watching me. I just needed to stay focused and play my game.&nbsp;Sport was only part of my family's background. Being Polynesian, my mum had a luau show as I was growing up, so I learned how to play a lot of different instruments as a performer in her show. One of the first instruments I learned was the to'ere, which is like a Tahitian drum. I also did traditional Polynesian fire dancing as a kid. Music and dancing were as core to my identity as sport was.&nbsp;It's easy to be an on- and off-switch person. But greatness means being your best at all times of the day, not just when it's convenient. My mum used to tell me, "The way you do one thing is the way you do all things". Golf is just one example. Trying to be great at a game that's impossibly hard, a game you can't perfect, doesn't mean that you stop trying. You keep trying to reach for more out of yourself. I'm trying to be great in all aspects of my life, whether that's on the course, in the gym, being a husband, being a father. I'm trying to push past my own limits in all aspects of my life.&nbsp;

Golfers tend to be pretty superstitious people. One of my rituals is that I wear green every Sunday. My mum, she passed away in 2011—her favourite colour was green. Wearing green is a way I like to honour her, a way to remember she's with me all the time on the course.&nbsp;Joining the Jordan Brand marks a new chapter in my career. Obviously Michael represents excellence at the highest level. Jordan Brand is incredible to be a part of and Michael is an incredible individual to represent. I met him for the first time when I was 17, and during the times I've played at his private course in Florida, The Grove, he's always told me, "Anytime you're in this area, you're welcome here". So in 2024, I'm playing a playoff event. I know I'm going to be in West Palm after the playoffs for a shoot I'm doing with one of my sponsors. My son was with me on the trip, and the thought crossed my mind, "It would be the coolest thing on Earth if I could bring my son to play The Grove". I texted Michael on a whim and asked him. He got back to me 30 seconds later: "We're actually closed for the weekend, but I'll open the course just for you and your son. Please bring him and we'll make it happen". We played 18 holes that day and had the entire course to ourselves, just me and my son. That single experience is something I'll never forget. That's the effect Michael has on people. You can download more images, as well as an accompanying film welcoming Finau to the Jordan Brand family, by clicking <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://media-assets.nike.com/en/pitches/jordan-brand-welcomes-tony-finau-to-its-golf-roster?secret=29e440c91211da0d9af84d3e374afd15" target="_blank">here</a>.

The pro golfer and newest member of the Jordan Brand Golf roster has never backed down from a challenge.

For the win

For Tony Finau, Going the Distance is a Mindset

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.

How I got here

Indoors and out, runner Jane Hedengren is rewriting history

Think <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/jordan-brand-luka-4-official-images" target="_blank">Luka Dončić</a> and your mental picture is probably his signature step-back jumper. The unthinkable passes that land perfectly in the hands of his teammates. The creativity under pressure and borderline court omniscience that cause endless headaches for his opponents.You probably know Luka as a fierce competitor who brings a trademark tenacity to each play. A generational talent, fuelled by an expert basketball IQ. A force to be reckoned with, owning every possession and controlling the pace of the game.But Luka, a consummate hooper, also contains multitudes off the court. He loves the serenity of the ocean and grilling a good cut of beef. He's <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@espn/video/7467995779832024362?lang=en" target="null">as comfortable gaming</a> as he is driving to the hoop for a Euro step and if he weren't on the hardwood, he'd choose running point on the gridiron. Above all else, he's incredibly proud of his 1-year-old daughter, Gabriela, whom he considers his greatest inspiration.Here, Luka shares more about his passions away from the game and how they make him a better player, when he knew he was living his childhood dream and the crossover skill between two of his favourite pastimes, fishing and basketball.Getting out on the water is one of my favourite things. My father had some small boats when I was young and we started going out together when I was maybe 7 years old. Today, renting a boat reminds me of my childhood: I love being on the ocean, just relaxing, driving the boat and getting some sun.I enjoy the peace of the ocean—there's so much space and nothing more important than appreciating the views and catching some fish. The last time I was in Mexico I caught a marlin. That was an amazing moment. Probably the coolest thing I've ever caught was a little shark. Once I had a very big fish on the line, battling for seven to 10 minutes but it escaped right under the boat—a definite disappointment.Fishing betters my game and basketball betters my fishing because they both require an essential skill: patience. Mostly, I like to fish to get out on the water, relax and enjoy the sun. But fishing is a reminder of the patience that's required in basketball and in life. You need patience no matter what.

My mentality away from the game is much more relaxed. I think off the court I'm more chill—staying home, enjoying time outside, not talking too much. On the court, I like to talk more and be aggressive; it's&nbsp;working hard and having fun.I was born with an intense competitive drive. Ever since I was a kid, I've been competitive in almost everything I do. That's why it's important for me to compete hard on the court and then to recharge with other hobbies and have time with my family and friends.If I had to pick a position in another sport, I'd love to play quarterback. When I was younger, I played a lot of sports. Basketball was obviously my favourite and I played outdoors almost every day after school. I also tried tennis and&nbsp;football—just being outdoors was fun for me. I've since really grown to like American football and I have a strong arm and great vision, so I think I could QB pretty well.When I'm not training or competing, I like to go out and grill, usually a good steak and some corn. I normally cook out when it's sunny, which helps me relax with my family and recharge for my training and busy schedule during the season.My daughter brings me the most pride of anything in the world. She's my greatest supporter in life, even if she doesn't know it yet. That drives me every day. She's 15 months old and I love spending time with her and playing with her.I remember when I realised I was living my childhood dream. I left my home when I was 12 years old to go alone and play for Real Madrid. I was just settling in during my first year with the team. But in my second year, I started to come into my own. Playing for the best basketball club in Europe, that's how I knew I was making my dreams a reality.I don't usually get nervous before games. But when I do feel some nerves, like before my first home game with the Lakers, I tell myself to remember that I'm good at what I do—I just need to go through my routine and do what I do best.The best advice I return to is simple: have fun, especially on the basketball court. When something doesn't go as planned, I just remember: "You've been doing this your whole life. You know how to do it. Go out there and have fun".

The Los Angeles Lakers guard goes deep on fishing, grilling and the secret to staying sane on the court.

Luka Dončić is more than just one of the best players in the league

Five games into his professional career, on his third-straight away game, Victor Wembanyama was already at home in the NBA. He scored 38 points, grabbed 10 boards and put up two blocks by the end of the night. At season's end, he'd average nearly four blocks a game, leading the league.&nbsp;Victor is all unreal numbers. The 20-year-old's&nbsp;7'4" frame swallows every square inch of the court. Offensively, he's fluid and mobile. Defensively, he's a one-man zone, able to turn away opposing fast breaks through his size and his stare. Evaluating rookies in the NBA is usually a challenge of evaluating their floor. At a minimum, what can this player become? He entered the league and instantly, the question was how high his ceiling might be—or whether there was one.&nbsp;Here, Victor answers our questions on what it takes to win—from transcending his own limits to banishing fear from his life. I knew from an early age the kind of professional I wanted to be. There's a lot of things we have to do as pro athletes that people in other jobs don't need to worry about, like getting enough sleep after you play a back-to-back and fly to a different time zone. I decided I need to get better sleep. When I start my dinnertime meal, my alarm for the next morning is already set on my phone and I'm not going to use my phone for the rest of the night.&nbsp;I'm lucky in that I can say I'm competing for multiple places. Wearing the France national jersey is one of the strongest feelings I know. In the NBA, I'm attached to the city of San Antonio. I'm a part of it. They've welcomed me.&nbsp;

All my life, I've been much taller than everyone on the court. So, when coaches saw me doing dribbles through the legs and doing fadeaways and stuff, their first reflex was to tell me not to do it. All my life, there's been this pressure to put me in a box. It's been the toughest battle I've fought my whole life. Now, I do have more freedom than before, but I'm convinced that my freedom wouldn't be here without my efforts to go against those stereotypes.Here's what I'd tell any kid who's struggling with something:&nbsp;when I was 12 years old, I went through a discouraging period. I was having trouble with my shot during my games. I obviously was growing a lot at that time and I was even skinnier than I am now, so I had trouble getting my shot off consistently against defenders. My coach told me, "When you're a professional, you'll be working on the present. But right now, you're working for the future".&nbsp;Seeing a kid wear my jersey is special. Any time I catch highlights of our games, I like watching the reactions in the stands and you naturally see the kids who are wearing your jersey. It's not the first thing you think about when you become an NBA player, but you realise you can positively influence the next generation through something you love. It's beautiful.&nbsp;It really saddens me when I see a lack of ambition from people. Usually, it comes from being scared and thinking "I'm not enough". Assuming that things are too big or too ambitious are things I've decided to banish from my life.At the end of the day, it's on you to define what your goals are in life, what you want to become. Winning is accomplishing those things that matter most to you.&nbsp;

I want to help create a new era of dominance for French basketball. That involves promoting the sport and making it more popular in the country for our youth. For professional basketball in France, I think our potential doesn't match our current investment. How can we improve our facilities? How can we train the best staff? We just need to match our potential and foster our pool of talent that's already here. France has the brightest future of any country in the world for basketball.Someone asked me how I make sure my name doesn't grow bigger than the Spurs organisation. That will never happen. The team wants me to succeed and be the best I can be. They've made a lot of sacrifices for me. I want the whole organisation to know how much I understand all that they've done. Sometimes, it's a little thing like sending a text or welcoming someone new to the organisation. I try to show people their worth in all they do. I'm not scared to grow bigger than them, because I want to make the Spurs as big as I can. I want to give back to them as much as possible.&nbsp;I don't think anyone could have a higher expectation for me than I have for myself. So, it's really no big deal when I hear people call me a once-in-a-generation player. The only people to whom I have something to prove are my coach and my team. Even my parents don't have expectations for me; they just want me to be happy. When I don't want to see all that pressure, I turn off my phone. It's as simple as that, but there's really no pressure or expectations. I never felt like I had something to owe to the world. I'm just playing basketball.

The 20-year-old phenom speaks to transcending his own limits, banishing fear from his life, turning off his phone and more.

The legend of Victor Wembanyama is growing

Editor's Picks

Story Landing

On 29 May 1975, Steve Prefontaine crossed the finishing line for what would be his final race. In a 5000m victory where he was just a second and a half away from beating his own American record, Pre was wearing what would eventually be called his "signature" spike, in that it was created for Pre and applied his scrupulous product feedback: the Pre Montreal, a name inspired by the summer games happening in Canada the following year, in which Pre was scheduled to compete in the 5000m.&nbsp;Lore has it that, prior to the Pre Montreal, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/how-steve-prefontaine-set-the-pace-for-nike" target="_blank">Steve Prefontaine</a> was reluctant to run in Nike athletics shoes because he couldn't find a shoe that felt just right, including the prototypes created for him by Bill Bowerman. The Pre Montreal might have been the first Nike shoe that Pre truly loved, and its history is grounded in equal parts innovation and sombre memory for its legendary endorser.&nbsp;

How we made it

The Pre Montreal was the first competitive racing spike to have a toe box without seams or stitching. It went into production in 1973 but didn't become available to the masses until the following year.While visiting Japan with Phil Knight in 1971 to order a new batch of Nike samples, Jeff Johnson, one of Nike's first and foundational employees, tinkered with spike plates he picked up from a distributor in Germany.

It took until 1973 to develop, but Johnson was looking for a way to combine a six-spike toe plate with a seamless toe piece upper. To do it, Johnson used reverse leather in the forefront of the shoe and a standard shoe seam in the back of the shoe, joined by two pieces of nylon."The idea of getting rid of the seam was to reduce the risk of blisters, because some people have a long first toe and some people have a long second toe", Johnson told Nike DNA historians. "So, where the toe is going to strike the stitching and overlay is unpredictable".

How it took off

Prefontaine had yet to find a Nike spike that he felt comfortable in during competition. That included Bowerman's novel prototypes."They were pretty rough and they were inconsistent because of the lasting machinery", said Johnson. The shoes that Bowerman was cobbling during Pre's days were stuck in an older era, still solid shoes but not the freshest spikes on the track. As Johnson explained, "You wore them out of respect for Bowerman".&nbsp;But times were changing. Pre graduated from the University of Oregon in 1973 and quickly signed on with Blue Ribbon Sports as the company's self-proclaimed national director of public affairs. He even printed his own business cards. Pre's endorsement of Nike shoes, which often meant sending a pair of shoes along with a hand-written recommendation to a young runner, would become the cornerstone of Nike's marketing efforts for years to follow.Pre was never shy about giving input on his shoes to Johnson, who used Pre's feedback to help craft the Pre Montreal. Prefontaine expressed to Johnson that a seamless toe would provide comfort to a runner's foot."We had Pre as an endorsement but we had nothing specific to give him", said Johnson. "This was the most interesting shoe, so I said 'Why don't we give it to Pre?' What can we call a shoe that we can somehow name after Pre? Pre Montreal!"The spike's final design earned Prefontaine's seal of approval. Amateur Athletic Union regulations of that era prevented athletes from officially endorsing products at the risk of losing their amateur status altogether. Still, it was impossible to disassociate the runner from his colourful new spike. Nobody could stop Pre, and Pre was everywhere. He would race from 1973 until that final race in May of 1975 while wearing his Pre Montreal spikes.&nbsp;

What's next

The legacy of the Pre Montreal continues with the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-international-running-pack-official-images" target="_blank">Nike International Running Pack</a>. The collection's Vaporfly 4, the latest evolution of Nike's original super shoe, embodies the spirit of the Pre Montreal through the spike's memorable red and blue colourway, its visual treatment inspired by the spike upper's combination of nylon and suede.

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

The 1973 Pre Montreal racing spike was an innovation worthy of its rising-star endorser, Steve Prefontaine.

History

Icons

The history of Steve Prefontaine's "signature" track spike

When asked about the race that told her she belonged with the world's best half-milers, Keely Hodgkinson thinks back to her 2021 victory at the British Championships. She was 19 years old, a self-proclaimed underdog and facing some of her home nation's top distance runners, many whose careers she'd watched with admiration as an amateur athlete. Now 23, the Nike athlete has reached that same national-hero status. She currently holds the world's leading 800-metre time of 1:54.74, in spite of a year of injuries, and is a leading candidate for a gold medal in Tokyo.&nbsp;&nbsp;Keely keeps good company back home. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more competitive nation in the women's 800-metre than the UK. In 2024, of the top five 800-metre women's times, UK runners held three of them—all from the same race at London's Olympic Stadium in July, when Keely set the British record. That Mancunian pride is a source of inspiration that Keely holds close, down to her choice of training club, M11. Based in Manchester, it's the newest locale under the Nike Swoosh TC umbrella, whose members include the likes of Georgia Hunter Bell, Sarah Healy and Erin Wallace. As Keely shares below, there's power in rediscovering your strength from the places that shaped you.&nbsp; Growing up in a small town can give you important opportunities if you have the talent and the work ethic. I grew up in a very small community outside of Manchester. For me, it was a true place to grow up. I had such great support at my school. People saw something in me and they encouraged me to run cross-country, where I first found a love of the sport. I don't know if anyone thought I would eventually take the world stage, but when you're a young kid and you're seen by members of a small community, you're given the opportunities to find a passion you might not otherwise find yourself.When I think of who I'm representing as a runner, I first think of my hometown. I'm quite proud to be from Manchester. We're one of the greatest cities in the world. And when it comes to sport, we really are incredible. We have two of the biggest football clubs in the world in one city. We have all kinds of high-performing athletes who are from Manchester. I love what the city has taught me. One of our mottos from M11 is that we're as busy as bees, which speaks to our city's work ethic.&nbsp;

Literal first-place wins are great, but you have to keep track of the small, behind-the-scenes wins that nobody else sees. When I think back to last year, I had a few different goals: win the World Indoor Championships, win the European Championships and staying undefeated. None of them happened because I kept getting hurt from my hamstring injury. All of a sudden, I had to shift to smaller goals. Let's put the spikes on. Let's start running. Let's run at 1,500m pace. Now 800m pace. Those were some crazy-small wins that meant a lot to me. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but sometimes you have to take a step back and take the small wins to get to the big ones.&nbsp;Your coaches can be a voice of reason when you encounter setbacks. I had many moments of frustration this year from the injuries. Coach Trevor [Painter] and Coach Jenny [Meadows] are amazing for a lot of reasons, one of them being how supportive they were of me. We have the kind of trusting relationship where we can have honest conversations. It was a struggle this year to figure out what was going on with the injuries, especially coming after a gold-medal year in Paris, but they 100 percent believed in me. Neither of them panic. I'm like, in some respects, surely we should be panicking now? But they have full belief in my capabilities, my talent and my drive. They know that if I put in the work, there's nothing to worry about.&nbsp;Our teammate dynamic within M11 is so solid. We all get on really well, we support each other, we have loads of ambition and we compete to get the best out of each other. Recovering from injury, it's been great having teammates like Georgia as a benchmark—she's been killing it on the track. We all work off each other's strengths and weaknesses across different practice sessions. We've had some of the boys join our team this year and I think they're drafting off us girls who've had a lot of experience and who've performed on the world stage. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to take the track with, day in and day out.&nbsp;

Some races have the makings of special times. That 2024 race in London where I set the national record was one of them. Olympic Stadium is this dream venue to compete in. Every competitor, whether you're British or not, loves that crowd, because they know they'll draw from the energy and the atmosphere as they burn down the home stretch. I knew I was in amazing shape. This was the opportunity to really go for it in front of a home crowd. We did the British 1–2–3. Georgia ran an amazing race and Erin helped us get there as our pacer. It's a race I look back on with a lot of pride, both personally and nationally.&nbsp;There were times I didn't even think I would be here to compete for a medal at Worlds. It's been a real struggle. Even if I got back onto the track, I didn't think I'd have enough time to prepare. That's why I'm so thankful for the journey. It would be really meaningful to get a win in the same Tokyo stadium where my career took off four years ago. To still be fighting for those medals four years later is crazy to think about. It goes to show what a great team we have back home.

Last year's 800-metre gold medallist has found her championship form again after a year of injuries. Integral to her comeback are the people and places she holds close.

To get back to Tokyo, Keely Hodgkinson found her way back home

Words: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/company/people/department-of-nike-archives" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">Department of Nike Archives</a>Not every breakthrough in sports science begins in a lab.For Nike's iconic Waffle sole—one of running's most game-changing innovations—it began in the kitchen.It was 1971 and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/stories/bill-bowerman-nike-s-original-innovator" target="_blank">Bill Bowerman</a> was wrestling with a problem he'd been turning over in his mind ever since a hard, slick new urethane track had been installed at the University of Oregon two years prior, which was injuring runners. Bowerman had to face a reality: he had chosen a track surface that wasn't holding up, and he needed to find a fix. How could his runners get better grip? Spikes dug in too deep; flats didn't bite enough.One morning, while glancing at his wife, Barbara's, waffle iron—a Model 251 by Bersted Manufacturing Company, which the Bowermans had received as a wedding gift in 1936—he was struck by the grid pattern. The raised squares seemed like the exact geometry that could deliver the lightweight traction he'd been chasing.He poured liquid urethane straight into the family waffle iron, only it instantly glued shut permanently, ruining their 35-year-old wedding present. Undeterred, he drove into town, bought several more secondhand waffle irons, and kept experimenting. Those first imprints came out inverted with concave bumps, but they sparked the idea that would lead him to refine moulds and materials until a workable prototype finally emerged.

What resulted was the first version of the Nike Moon Shoe—a design that would shape the future of running for decades."The Waffle sole changed everything", says Nike Running Historian Rick Lower. "Not only did it transform how runners thought about traction and cushioning but it showed people what Nike was about: solving problems in new ways".

A catalyst for the future

In 1971, Nike, then still known as Blue Ribbon Sports, an American importer of Japanese running shoes, hadn't yet become the global force in sports innovation that it is today. The fledgling company was still finding its footing, and Bowerman—co-founder, coach and relentless tinkerer—was at the centre of that push. To him, every surface was a problem waiting for a solution.&nbsp;That included the new Astroturf laid down at Autzen Stadium, where the Oregon Ducks football team struggled for traction. In wet conditions, players often ditched their boots for basketball shoes with a herringbone outsole that gripped better. Bowerman and teammate Jeff Johnson began exploring traction ideas for football as well as athletics, a line of thinking that would lead to the Astrograbber—a shoe prototyped in 1972 and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-bode-rec-astrograbber-official-images" target="_blank">reissued decades later</a>."There had been no real innovation in outsoles for decades", says Nike Running Historian Rick Lower. "Running shoes were basically just a sheet of rubber to protect your feet from the road, and traction and cushioning were secondary. Bowerman wasn't willing to accept that".Inspired by the moment in his kitchen, he began pulling in a network of local resources to help refine the moulds and materials—tire shops, machinists, cobblers. Early prototypes disintegrated after only minutes of running. Others left athletes with cut ankles from exposed wire that was embedded in the rubber mixture for traction. Yet each failed attempt nudged the idea closer to the finishing line.

By November 1971, the Waffle sole had its first taste of competition when members of Oregon's cross-country team wore early versions to win the NCAA title. Through the winter and spring of 1972, more college&nbsp;and local South Eugene high-school&nbsp;athletes quietly tested pairs. By the following summer, Bowerman and Geoff Hollister were hand-cobbling a small batch of prototypes for a bigger stage: the US Olympic Trials in Eugene.They weren't perfect, especially not for the marathon level. "It was basically just an upper stitched to a thin sheet of waffle", Lower says. "So minimal it was like running barefoot". Still, a handful of brave runners laced them up. Some thought the Waffle sole footprints looked like astronauts' footprints on the moon, becoming part of the lore that gave the prototypes their now-iconic nickname: the Moon Shoe.For the fast-growing company, it was a pivotal moment. Even if the shoe wasn't ready for mass release, it was proof the idea worked and evidence that this small Oregon company could push running footwear in an entirely new direction.

The bridge to a running movement

The Moon Shoe itself never went to market, though a few pairs are believed to have been sold out of Nike's Eugene retail store, making it possible to have snagged one if you were in the right place at the right time. But the shoe's DNA spread quickly. By 1973, Nike released the Oregon Waffle. Two years later came the Waffle Trainer, Nike's first blockbuster success.Designed by Bill Bowerman and Geoff Hollister, as well as famed Bowerman collaborators orthopaedic surgeon Stan James and podiatrist Dennis Vixie, the Waffle Trainer became Nike's most popular running model. It was created at the request of runner Jon Anderson, who wanted a more substantial training shoe, but went well beyond satisfying Anderson's needs—it became the best-selling training shoe in the country. By 1975, orders had topped 100,000 units, and its blue upper with a yellow Swoosh became one of the defining looks of Nike's early years. To this day, it remains emblematic of Nike in the 1970s.

The milestone sneaker didn't just give everyday runners better grip. With a flared sole and a new cushioning sensation unlike anything they'd felt before, it changed expectations of what a running shoe could be."That shoe was the bridge", Lower explains. "It took the Moon Shoe's experiment and turned it into a global product. From there Nike's reputation as an innovator was cemented".But it wasn't the end for the Moon Shoe. After making its revival on Nike collaborator and French designer Jacquemus's runway last January, the iconic silhouette was reimagined for a new generation. Sleek and fashion-forward, the new sneaker, coming soon, bridges performance heritage and style with speed, capturing the same restless drive that defined its earliest incarnation. What was once vaulted as Nike's racing DNA is now primed for the future.

Long live experimentation and innovation

The waffle iron tale might have stayed legend if not for a discovery decades later. When Bowerman's son Tom renovated the family property in Coburg, Oregon, he unearthed a long-forgotten rubbish pit near the carport. Inside were discarded prototypes, moulds and the rusted shell of the waffle iron Barbara Bowerman had tossed after Bill glued it shut.&nbsp;Today, that iron rests in the Department of Nike Archives at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., acting as a reminder of the kitchen tinkering that became the blueprint for Nike's approach and long-term success: experiment boldly, keep refining and never stop pushing forward.

Created from the experimentation and ingenuity of Nike's co-founder Bill Bowerman, the Nike Moon Shoe's unique design would shape the future of running for decades.

Feature

From waffle iron to world stage: the true story of the Nike Moon Shoe

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

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is representing the US women's sprints in Tokyo, where she's running both the 100 metres and the 200 metres. But saying she earned the right to race for her country undersells just how dominant of a season, from start to finish, the South Carolina native has had. She's undefeated in the 100 metres this year. During her preliminary heat at the US Championships, she laid down a 10.65, making her the sixth fastest woman in American history. She'll go for the legendary sprint double in Tokyo, and if she can strike lightning twice, she'll be the first woman to do it in 22 years. Here, MJW talks about her unbeaten season, her surge in confidence since last summer in Paris and her preparation ahead of Tokyo as she looks to make history.Editor's note: on 14 September, MJW concluded her perfect season by winning gold in Tokyo, running a 10.61 in the 100m, good for a championship record and fourth-place all time in the event. Having a winning mindset starts by taking responsibility for what you can control, not what you can't. Growing up, I didn't necessarily have the most resources. But if I was going to be successful, I couldn't let adversity get in the way of what I really wanted to achieve on the track. I learned to not complain about the things I don't have, and instead focus on the things I can control and allow those things to fuel me.The biggest change I noticed in myself this season was when I focused on competing against myself versus other people. I'm not focusing on what other racers can do or the ways I don't feel equipped. I'm focusing on the things that make me my best self, like my technique and my cues. I'm not losing sight of how I can compete against my own best. That takes its own kind of discipline.When I take the starting line, I'm representing my village. That's my family, but it's also my team who's been a part of my journey—my coaches, my training partners. I worked so hard to get to where I am, but the reality is that those people have sacrificed so much on my behalf too. I'm racing for them, not just for me.&nbsp;

The feeling of winning is a full-circle moment. When I crossed the finish line for the 200 metres at Trials, I remember how satisfying it was to look at the time and feel validated for all of the work I put in, all of the struggles you fought through. Even though you're exhausted, when you cross the finish line, you feel this peace and happiness that washes over you. Crossing the finish line in first place is obviously what I think of when I think of winning, but also the full-circle serenity of knowing that your hard work paid off.Racing those doubles can tell you a lot about your fitness level. I had some great opportunities to run the double this year in Kingston, Miami and Philadelphia. Now, in those races, we have the benefit of the 100 metres and the 200 metres being on different days, so you can take them on one by one. Tactically, you can focus on one thing at a time. But in a setting like the Trials, you might go out and need to run two 200s in a day. It took me a second to get readjusted to a more traditional double, but I was quick to remind myself, Melissa, stay out of your own head. You're in shape, you're prepared for this. Telling your mind that your body is ready for the challenge: that's what life is about. Go out and dare to do something that you haven't done before.&nbsp;

I've thankfully had a great season, but I'm not taking anything for granted. After Brussels, I said in an interview that I still feel like I'm the one doing the hunting. It's the truth. I have the fastest 100-metre time in the world this year, and I'm top five in the 200 metres, but I don't have any individual titles or medals yet. I'm not getting caught up in everyone else saying that I'm the one to beat. I'm not. I'm still chasing everyone else in that field before I can say I'm at the top.Every performance, from my medal in Paris to whatever happens in Tokyo, has to start with my step-by-step race execution. It's easy to get caught up in which medals or titles mean more. But if I don't execute my race in the way that I'm supposed to, then I can't even start talking about achievements. Let's get to the starting line, let's run my race, let's execute and let's see what happens.&nbsp;

On 14 September, MJW concluded her perfect season by winning gold in Tokyo, running a 10.61 in the 100m, good for a championship record and fourth-place all time in the event.

For Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, there's no place like first place

Rai Benjamin has spent a lifetime with both feet planted in different worlds. On the track, he's one of the fastest 400-metre hurdlers ever, but his 4x400 relay teams have also put together some of the most memorable performances in American history. (A recent example: last year's relay in Paris, where Rai ran an inspired 43.13 anchor leg, holding off a furious comeback against Botswana.) He proudly wears USA on his chest, but he's also the proud son of Antiguan immigrants who made a life for themselves in the Bronx. Rai will compete in the 400-metre hurdles in Tokyo for his first world title. But his identities as a competitor are intricately laced across the many bonds he carries as an athlete—equal parts individual and teammate, American star and son of Caribbean parents. Below, Rai speaks to his identities as an athlete, his epiphany during his undefeated 2024 season and why he values the team above all. Early on, I was able to experience what makes track special as both an individual and a collective sport. When I was first old enough to compete on the international stage, I was able to compete for Antigua in the Ukraine for the World Youth Championships. It was a great experience overall, but I realise now that I was missing a sense of camaraderie with my teammates. I was watching Team USA, where everyone was having fun together and doing their own thing. I realised I was missing that team aspect. Here I was, a 15-year-old, by myself in a hotel room in a foreign country. When it's your first time at a big meet, having teammates who are going through the same thing as you, all while you're competing individually, is so important.It was that sense of camaraderie that led me to filing to compete for Team USA. All of my friends were competing for the USA, and I wanted to be a part of that. The transfer was a long process. I went through two entire collegiate seasons before it was approved. I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. I was sitting in Spanish class, 8am. Horrible. Everyone was dozing off. All of a sudden, I get an email that pops up: my allegiance transfer was approved. Representing both Antigua and the United States are integral parts of my story. Competing for my family's country of origin helped put me on a trajectory that changed my outlook on life, both athletically and personally.&nbsp;Going from New York to Los Angeles for college was like night and day. Getting onto the road after flying into LAX, I'm seeing six-lane highways for the first time. The sun's always shining, there are no clouds in the sky, there's an In-N-Out everywhere you look. It seemed like a life you only saw on TV. Then you get onto the track: These kids are running 45s in the 400, and 3:15s in the relay. I'm like, Whoa, this is an entirely different beast on the track scene as well. I'm a proud East Coaster, but I was ready to experience a culture shift like that once I got to UCLA and then USC, because I knew I'd grow as a competitor.&nbsp;Athletes are lucky to have one standout season that defines their career. It's even rarer to have two. The 2024 season for me was special. I went undefeated in the hurdles, I ran a world-leading time twice and the 4x400 relay in Paris was one of the craziest races I've ever been a part of. But that 2018 season at USC was magical, man. My outdoor times were fast, and that 4x400 relay team [Michael Norman, Ricky Morgan and Zach Shinnick] was special from top to bottom. But the middle of those seasons, those six years, was what changed me as an athlete, and those were the most trying years of my career, being injured so much. Something needed to change. I went to coach Joanna Hayes before my 2024 season and I told her, "Listen, I just want to have fun again this year. I don't want to think too much about anything. I just want to race, stay healthy and have fun on the track again". Being the amazing coach that she is, she sat down with my trainer and created a plan for the season. It was like a flip was switched, as far as feeling like myself again.

I started enjoying myself on the track again once I surrendered myself to the things I couldn't control. There's only so much you can do to prepare. Get the training in, be present, accept when you've done enough. I like to say that 2024 was my season of surrender.&nbsp;Knowing when to say no is one of the most important decisions you make as an athlete. I've had two clear moments in my life. One of them was when I chose not to run in the 2024 Pre Classic. I had this recurring injury in my quad that was showing up. I distinctly remember telling my coaches and my agent that if I go to Pre, I'm going to ruin the rest of my season. I had my sights on Paris later that summer. I knew that I was risking a medal in Paris if I insisted on battling through the pain and competing in Eugene. To my team's credit, everyone supported me. I let my leg heal. The telltale sign it was the right decision was when I raced in Monaco in July. That win gave me all the confidence in the world going into Paris.&nbsp;Unless you've run in a relay, you don't know how special it is to be running for your teammates. That 4x400 relay medal in Paris means more to me than my individual gold. The four of us were running for each other. We were running for the entire nation. As soon as I got that baton as the anchor, I had never heard a stadium that loud in my entire life. I get to the homestretch and I'm spent, I have nothing left in the tank. I was like, "Please, God, get me to the line!"&nbsp;I remember crossing the line and being ecstatic. The boys were so happy, people were going nuts. It was one of the hardest things I've had to do in my entire life.Now, I'm better on the mental side of competition than ever. My win at US Nationals was a great example of how I've matured as a runner. Caleb Dean started to my outside, and he took off like he was shot out of a cannon. But I've raced these guys so many times. I know exactly how they're going to approach it. I knew Caleb was going to hit the first six hurdles hard. I usually know by hurdle seven or so if a guy can sustain a pace like that, and I knew I could chase him down. That's the maturity in me. I'm confident in my experiences and my race planning, so I'm not thrown off by what a competitor does. I don't doubt my tactics in the way I might have when I was a younger runner.&nbsp;

The American hurdler will go for his first gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo. His many identities—as an individual and teammate, as the son of Caribbean immigrants and as a proud American—are what ground his success.

Rai Benjamin is in a world of his own

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.

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.

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.