When the most decorated 100-meter 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 honor 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 colors of her nation’s flag for her final finish —&nbsp;gold-hued 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-meter 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-meters 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 track and field’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 the now 276 incredible races and finish line moments, thank you, Shelly-Ann.Below, go behind the scenes of the G.O.A.T.’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 in-house photographer to 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 sports 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 ability to work in high pressure environments for athletes.

Sofieke van Bilsen

Photo Essay

Icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Ran Her Final 100 Meter 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 &amp; CEO Mark Parker to debut his Nike Zoom LeBron V "China" colorway.

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’ 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, emphasizing 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 grueling, 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 kilometers, with elevation gains of 1,200 to nearly 10,000 meters — the grit, determination, joy and freedom trail running gives you is worth every ounce of work. See for yourself.

<h3>ROSS GOLLAN</h3>Race: ETC; 15km with 1,200m elevation gain Global finish rank: 29th

<h3>MARIE NIVET</h3>Race: Experience Trail Courmayeur (ETC); 15km with 1,200m elevation gain Global women’s finish rank: 7th

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

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

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

<h3>DREW HOLMEN</h3>Race: CCC; 101km 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

NExt volume

Italian Factory Making of The Mercurial Intro Loop

Cameron was born in Rochester, New York, but grew up in the small town of Brighton, Michigan. Skateboarding and snowboarding were his life until he minted himself as a photographer. For the first 15 years of his career, after he moved to Los Angeles, he shot for skate brands almost exclusively, constantly pushing himself to capture a familiar subject in a fresh, dynamic way. It was like DIY photo school. Try never to be at ground level, and use everything around you to build a more interesting photograph in camera. Foreground elements, reflections, the grit of the street, sun flare, off-kilter perspectives, light trails — This creative restlessness culminated into a signature look that continues to evolve in exciting ways.His approach to visual storytelling envelops you in the moment. You feel like you’re the runner trying to beat your personal best, hugging the curves of a racetrack on a motorbike, bouldering with your friends, cycling against a spectacular natural panorama, or rounding up cattle at golden hour. “I like the challenge of making the product the focus but having each image feel honest and human,” says Cameron.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cameron Strand

Shoemakers. Cobblers. Stitchers. Pattern engineers. These are only a handful of the specialists inside Italy's Montebelluna and Diamant workspaces, in which Nike partners with teams that guide a single football boot through 35 individual manufacturing steps. In about three hours, the shoe moves from pre-assembly to shaping and stitching to final build.This work represents the final stretch of a much longer journey — nearly two years of development, testing and refinement — to deliver Nike’s pinnacle football boot, the Mercurial.Nike came to the region in 1996, drawn to a place long regarded as the best in the world for boot manufacturing. For three decades, Nike has relied on the expertise here to provide old-world Italian craftsmanship to complement its advanced footwear innovations, using hands as often as machines.Inside the Montebelluna sample room lives a one-of-a-kind collection of roughly 300 pairs of foot lasts. These custom forms honor more than 200 players who’ve shaped Nike Football, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylian Mbappé to Sophia Wilson. And while Montebelluna perfects the boot for Nike’s most elite athletes, the process starts in the Diamant factory, where this year’s Mercurial Vapor 17 and Mercurial Superfly 11 are made for footballers around the world.Every iteration of the Mercurial builds on what came before, raising the bar for speed, performance and confidence on the pitch. For the artisans who meticulously engineer these boots, the reward goes beyond turning a “prototype into a masterpiece,” as one bootmaker put it. It’s the pride and responsibility of knowing their work will be worn by football’s elite athletes on the world’s biggest stage.Here, go inside the Italian workspaces where the Mercurial comes to life.

What It Takes to Make the Mercurial

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/topics/nike-football-2026" target="_blank">See more of our Universe of Nike Football.</a>

Shoemakers. Cobblers. Stitchers. Pattern engineers. They all partner with Nike in these unique facilities to perfect football boots — like the new Merc — for the game’s most elite as well as everyday footballers around the world.

Inside the Italian Workspaces Where We Craft the Nike Mercurial Boot

About Nike - Stories from Inside NIKE, Inc.

After winning 73 singles titles, 14 doubles titles, four Olympic gold medals, and reigning as the No. 1 women's singles tennis player in the world for a collective six years, Serena Williams decided she was ready for a new challenge. In 2022, she announced that she was "evolving away" from tennis, playing her final match at the US Open that September against Ajla Tomljanovic. A retirement this was not: by that point, Serena Ventures, her venture capital firm, had raised more than $100 million dollars for start-ups focused on female and POC consumers, and she wanted to devote more time to growing that work even more. She was also 40, wanted another child, and knew that she didn't want to be pregnant and competing again. (She had her first child, Olympia, in 2017, eight months after she won the Australian Open, her 23rd Grand Slam, while eight weeks pregnant; she didn’t drop a single set.) Throughout her farewell tour, reporters and fans asked if she'd ever come back. She didn't say no. Now four years, and another daughter, Adira, later, the Nike athlete since 2003 is back on court. Her return competition is fitting — the Queen's Club tournament in London — where she’ll play doubles. Tennis has evolved since Williams took her pause, but then again, so has she. Below, in her own words, Williams shares her new outlook, why it's important for her daughters to see her return, and why she’s always believed in herself.

This return is not about wins or losses. I just want to have fun. I want to travel and I want to enjoy myself. I've always enjoyed tennis, but this time it's from a different angle. Every time I watched a tournament, I missed it. I miss the atmosphere. I miss the court.&nbsp; Still, what I'm looking for in a doubles partner is someone that wants to win and can win. I guess that hasn't changed! I’m choosing doubles because I'm not putting any pressure on myself to do singles right now. This is a good way to start for me.&nbsp; The only different thing in my training now is that I don't get angry. Although, yesterday, I did want to crack my racket. But I thought, ‘Serena, you're absolutely not going to do that.’ In the past, I would have. This moment is for my daughters too. I want them to see what a strong woman I am, who I am. Now, they'll be able to see what I do and the impact that I've had. There are so many different things that define excellence. But a lot of people don't understand the full work. We see lots of results that are really fast, things that seem like they happened overnight. But there's always some sort of sacrifice. To gain something, you have to not have something. You have to decide what it is. And sometimes, it's at a cost. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pressure can feel very heavy, but lighter if you step up to it and own it. There's this old saying, “He who doubts, loses.” Doubt is for those who don't want to win. You can't doubt yourself. I work very hard, but I also know I'm at a different stage in my life, so I learn how to get more bang for my buck without sacrificing my hard work.

Who Serena's Looking for In a Doubles Partner

When I first started playing tennis, I had to fight to just belong. As a woman, you have to fight to show what you have done, and what you can do. And not necessarily fight, but "calmly and confidently remind." When you're sure of yourself, it's ok to walk away and say, “This isn't for me right now.” I'm very fortunate that now I get to pick and choose the battles that I decide to fight. Some of those battles are great, especially if they involve my children, but other battles end with me saying, “You know what? Not my day today.” To stay on top, you have to welcome change. You have to pivot. Take learning AI, for example — I pivoted instantly. I don't wait, I don't think, I just do. That's how I've always been. Especially with my career, I've always thought, oh, Roger's doing that? I'm pivoting immediately. That's why I had the ability to play for so many years, I was always open to change. I changed my racket and my strings at a time where no one was doing it, and people thought that was really crazy. It was unheard of at the time. I did it, and then suddenly everyone else did it. My partnership with Nike is all about building and creating new. I can see Nike’s gotten back to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/the-handshake-that-started-it-all" target="_blank">those roots of Phil</a>, starting each idea with “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/phil-mccartney-is-showing-what-innovation-means-inside-nike-now" target="_blank">how do we help athletes</a>.” I love what's happening in <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nikeskims-introduces-studio-stretch-material-innovation-collection" target="_blank">NikeSKIMS</a>. It embodies innovation. When I first saw that, I called Kim and said, "This is genius." I have always believed in myself. Other people believing in you is fantastic, but let's face it, that doesn't always happen. And there's a lot of times where people will say things that make you not believe in yourself. Having your self-belief is so important. Then, it doesn't matter what happens — it won't change your foundation. It doesn't mean you self-believe in everything, because, quite frankly, I don't. I always have to go to my foundation and say, “This is what I'm great at, this is what I'm good at — now let's build on it.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The tennis champion has a new outlook, an important "why," and a belief in herself that's never gone away.

For The Win

In Her Return to the Court, Serena Williams Reminds Us Why She’s the GOAT

It’s 2015, and touring Nike’s world campus in Beaverton, Oregon, is Kobe Bryant, 6 foot 6 inches of genius basketball talent, and energetically curious about what his partner sport brand is up to in its product innovation spaces. The creator of Mamba Mentality wanders up to Nike teammates at work and asks, “Are you creating that epic s---?”That phrase from Kobe has become <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-new-innovation-engine-announcement" target="_blank">the North Star</a> for Nike’s EVP and Chief Innovation, Design and Product Officer, Phil McCartney. It’s a call to action, and it spells out a mission as important to him as <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/bill-bowerman-nike-s-original-innovator" target="_blank">Bill Bowerman</a>’s mandate that the company should make athletes* better. “We’ve got the authenticity of Bowerman in the roots of the company, plus the athlete irreverence from Kobe, so put that together and it becomes a standard of excellence,” says McCartney. It’s the way he measures products: Is it epic? Does it make athletes better? “If it doesn’t, then we shouldn’t do it."

Before McCartney came into his role in June 2025, Nike had no shortage of ideas and sport-science research. What it needed was focus, the muscle memory to turn its athlete insights, science-backed data and design and product ideas into intentional, sharper, more epic swings. A little chutzpah couldn’t hurt either. “I wanted us to get our swagger back, to be more responsive, have a competitive spirit and an athlete’s mindset about the work,” says McCartney.A clear strategy, ruthless prioritization, and license to dream came through in short order. Last September, the Innovation team organized as “IDP” — Innovation, Design, Product — an acronym that McCartney says belies the creation process: Before his team does anything, they have to innovate,&nbsp;then&nbsp;design, and the product is the outcome. At the same time, the company launched its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/amy-montagne-the-force-returning-nike-to-sport" target="_blank">Sport Offense</a> — organizing teams enterprise-wide by sport to better serve the athlete. His two immediate goals in his role: connect <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/meet-the-nike-mind-team" target="_blank">product back to science</a>, taking advantage of the company’s ability to scrutinize and study like no one else, and shore it up with the art of athleticism. And build a deeper, holistic approach to innovating that better connects teams across NIKE, Inc., creating one engine that accelerates product creation.

McCartney says he's at his happiest in creative spaces on campus — the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/inside-the-serena-williams-building" target="_blank">Serena Williams Building</a>, the Michael Jordan Building, the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/inside-the-nike-sports-research-lab-lebron-james-innovation-center" target="_blank">LeBron James Innovation Center</a> and Converse spaces, and the Bowerman Footwear Lab, where he says teams create magic every day. This 90,000-square-foot space tucked inside the campus’s Mia Hamm Building is an imagination machine for sneaker creation. Amidst heaps of colorful bolts of fabric and foot lasts, McCartney is like a kid at Disneyland, grinning at the technological abilities at the company’s fingertips. “This footwear lab changes how people think about creating product and designing —&nbsp;it’s our test kitchen,” explains McCartney, emphasizing that&nbsp;this&nbsp;is the space where you’re reminded that Nike is a product company serving athletes through new solutions. One of the most exciting parts of the space to McCartney is its real-time prototyping capabilities and the ability to tinker with a product idea for an athlete <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/how-nike-built-its-world-headquarters" target="_blank">visiting campus</a>, then instantly modify the proto based on their feedback.That innovator’s spirit goes hand and hand with another classic Nike strategy: Get out into the communities and know your people. “I want us to go grassroots again, to operate a hyperlocal model and be so connected with the athletes that we can anticipate their next need,” says McCartney. Sitting in his fifth-floor office in the Sebastian Coe Building, he pulls out his computer and flashes up a deck that goes deep on his innovation teams’ three major product focuses for Nike’s next fiscal year. You can see, he explains, how these three product constructs can be adapted by region, by sport and by athlete. The tight lineup didn’t start this way, he adds. Winnowing down the most innovative products to these three constructs took months of killing good ideas in favor of great ones, then punching those up to be epic.One step to making this a reality, says McCartney, is to bring key partners along. He’s fresh off a two-week trip to Asia, where he says he worked directly with factory owners he’s known for 20 years. “We walked through the steps to accelerate my teams’ ideas from concept to final product faster and more efficiently,” he says. “This is an essential part of revving our innovation engine and solving challenges in real time.”

Like everyone else he knew growing up, McCartney wanted to be footballer. The sport was the lifeblood of Newcastle, the city in northern England where he was raised. Football was also one of the clearest paths out of the working-class town, a place where most people left high school after 16 to start earning money. College was something that other people did, and opportunities elsewhere, like the U.S., seemed about as close as the moon. So, along with the rest of the boys he knew, McCartney joined his school football team, shoring up dreams of kicking his way into the Premier League.After his first few uninspiring games, his dad suggested he try something else. This was young Phil’s first lesson in editing and prioritizing, walking away from an okay idea for a better one. McCartney tried a running club, set up by local parents to keep their kids out of trouble. The families operated on a tight budget&nbsp;— his father installed drywall, and his mother worked in youth community building — and the rule within the club was that once you outgrew your trainers, you passed them down to a younger kid. McCartney was soon in possession of a pair of bright orange-red sneakers, replete with a yellow Swoosh as electric as lightening. “Imagine getting that as an 11-year-old kid,” he says. He loved them so much, he slept in them. “I had no idea what Nike was, didn’t know it was American, never even heard of Oregon.” But he knew how the shoes made him feel: invincible, strong, fast, capable.&nbsp;The first race he ever won — a 1,500-meter on the track — was in Nikes.He punctuates this story by pulling out a pair of those exact Nike Flame spikes on a January morning in Glo’s Cafe at the base of the LeBron James Innovation Building on Nike’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/how-nike-built-its-world-headquarters" target="_blank">Philip H. Knight Campus</a>. (These aren’t the same shoes he had as a youth, but rather a pair he tracked down later on.) They’re more than just leather and suede: The shoes are a reminder of his duality, who he is and who he’s been, and what has kept him going. The kid who filled his hours doodling sneakers; the teen who started working in retail to help support his family; the young man who applied for his dream job at Nike, becoming a Nike EKIN (because these experts are supposed to know the brand’s products backward and forward); and now, the leader who sets its strategy for innovation, design and product.McCartney knows persistence, intelligence and hard work brought him to where he is today, but for years, he says, he couldn’t help feelings of imposter syndrome, of thinking he was still that working-class kid from middle-of-nowhere-England pretending to be just as sophisticated as everyone else. To this day, he says, those feelings can creep in on him. “I’m proud of where I’m from, but there is just such a huge gap from where I was to where I am,” says McCartney. That fact makes it all the more important, he adds, to show his teams that they can be their authentic selves. “I want our people of all backgrounds to feel comfortable here,” he says, adding “it’s hard to be creative if you’re trying to be someone else at the same time.”McCartney credits some of this managerial approach to Vincent Coates, a Senior Director, Footwear Product Development Lead, for Global Football, who taught him that a great leader provides an environment for people to feel empowered. And Coates confirms that McCartney’s earned that: “I’d walk through a brick wall for Phil,” he says, calling him a leader who is as much at home leading an offsite to discuss footwear as he bringing the levity to diffuse the day-to-day pressure — like when he donned an Elvis outfit and sang Suspicious Minds to lighten the team mood (that story is fact-checked and confirmed). Coates says the company’s return to being a player in the global football market came from strategies like McCartney’s insistence on bringing siloed teams together. Before he took the role, Innovation sat separately from the Product and Marketing teams. Now they’re all connected and pulling toward the same focused goals. “Phil’s created a greater team and this culture of belonging, inclusivity and fun,” says Coates. “Yes, we have challenges. But now, because we’re figuring things out together, it’s an enjoyable journey. That’s the impact he has on people — he makes you want to be all in.”

Since childhood, sport has taken McCartney on some of the pivotal journeys of his life. Races gave him his first taste of exploring different parts of his home country and mixing with different people. With sport, “the world gets bigger and bigger,” he says. And because of his long-held dedication to running, he brings a particular empathy to his work and the plight of the athlete. He knows what it’s like to push yourself beyond what you think you could possibly do, to compete against yourself, to wake up at 5 am for a run, because that’s what he’s trained his mind and body to do. It’s a viewpoint he cherishes in his job, and one that athletes cherish within him. McCartney and legendary marathoner and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/eliud-kipchoge-radical-airflow-new-york-city-marathon" target="_blank">Nike athlete Eliud Kipchoge</a> have been friends for more than a decade, and the record-breaking runner says that he and McCartney talk about everything: innovation, trail shoes, blisters, their families, the future of the company. Kipchoge loves that they can do that while on a run. “It feels great for me to talk to someone who was an athlete himself, who is working with Nike and&nbsp;is among the decision-makers,” says Kipchoge.Listening to athletes is not only one of the most inspiring and motivating parts of the job, McCartney says, but a key to making it all work. “The biggest thing in innovation is to take a chance with the athletes and whatever ideas they might have,” he says, citing <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/six-reasons-why-breaking2-goes-beyond-26-2-miles" target="_blank">Breaking2</a>, the 2017 project that ultimately helped Kipchoge <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/10-greatest-nike-air-sports-moments" target="_blank">complete a marathon in under two hours</a>. “It leads to huge advancements in sport, human potential and technology, and we need those moments just to think differently and bigger."

Like Nike athletes, McCartney wants his team to be bold in their approach to innovation and creativity. He knows, though, that it all starts with him as a leader: “I’m always balancing care with competitiveness,” he says. “We’ve got to win. So how do you create the conditions to do that?” His role isn’t just to execute or delegate; he also wants to create the right conditions for people to do their best work. “We don’t need people to be told what to do; we have loads of incredibly talented people,” he says. “What they need is direction, trust and the air cover to go after something big.”While McCartney may still be a bit incredulous about leaving Newcastle, when he visits home, he likes to talk to the local kids about his journey: that you can go from being a young runner propelled by the potential in your soles to the executive who guides their production. And not only the sport science that helped create them, but the look, the feeling and the heat&nbsp;that make a new generation of kids wear those shoes to bed at night.That’s the standard the company’s embracing again under McCartney’s guidance — in the lab, in athlete conversations, in the prototype, in the edit, in the final product. Nothing less than epic s---.

*If you have a body, you are an athlete.

Chief Innovation, Design and Product Officer Phil McCartney knows what the bar is when it comes to innovation at the Swoosh. This is how he’s making sure the company’s products clear it.

Feature

What Creating Epic Means Inside Nike Now

For kids around the world, going pro in a sport is the ultimate dream. But seeing is believing, and for Indigenous youth in particular, there are fewer professional athletes to look up to. But Madison Hammond — who is a member of the San Felipe Pueblo (Katishtya) and Navajo (Diné) tribe, Black, and a defensive midfielder for the Utah Royals — had a role model. Her uncle, Notah Begay III, was a professional golfer on the PGA Tour who started the NB3 Foundation, one of the nonprofits that Nike and the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/mission/initiatives/n7-fund" target="_blank">N7 Fund</a> have supported, when she was a child. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand how close I was to excellence,” Madison, the first Native American athlete in the NWSL, says. “I think in Indigenous communities, excellence isn’t always the first attribute that’s given to us, but it was ingrained in me from a really young age.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Growing up in New Mexico, Madison started playing soccer when she was 5. At the age of 9, she moved with her mother to Arlington, Virginia, and was catapulted into the highly competitive world of youth soccer. There, her coaches told her that if she put in the work, she had the potential to be as good as she wanted to be — and it became her mantra.&nbsp;Returning to San Felipe Pueblo during summer vacations, Madison attended an NB3 Foundation–sponsored summer camp, where she played soccer all day on a turf field provided by the foundation. She could see the reservation’s sacred hills from the bright green pitch, a stark contrast to the surrounding brown landscape. By playing on a team with other Native American girls, Madison was able to immerse herself both in her culture and her sport. It was empowering.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here, in her own words, Madison tells us about chance, circumstance, her road to success, and the legacy she hopes to leave other young Indigenous athletes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Record: When did you first realize that you had a real talent for soccer?Madison Hammond: I was around 10 or 11 years old when that feeling first kicked in. I knew that I didn’t just want to be good, I wanted to be great.TR: You’ve talked about your uncle as your role model. How has he inspired you?MH: My uncle was a professional golfer and a Nike athlete. I think he’s inspired me in two different ways. One, the fact that he was the first Native American in his sport as well. He also established the NB3 foundation, which has been around my whole life. I played on a team that was through his foundation, and my other uncle was my coach. Being able to do that on our reservation with other girls that were from San Felipe Pueblo was really impactful for me. That’s just not what I have been able to do throughout my whole soccer journey. I’ve typically been one of the only Black/Brown girls on the team. I didn’t realize how impactful it would be for me 20 years later.TR: When did you know that you wanted to play professionally?MH: I didn’t go into college soccer with the intention of playing professionally. I went into it wanting to be the best I could be. That has been my mindset my entire life: As long as I am improving, as long as I’m getting better, nothing will stop me.TR: Have there been any major hurdles along the way?MH: I went to a college that was primarily white and very affluent, and I felt like I was out of my depth. It was the first time that I had to challenge myself to remember who I was and to remember what my values were and why they made me successful as a soccer player. Everything comes back to my traditional beliefs.

Madison at four years old playing soccer on the Young Dragons team in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Madison at five, photographed with her aunt during a traditional celebration in San Felipe Pueblo.

Madison in elementary school playing soccer for Prince William Soccer Club in Woodbridge, Virginia.

TR: What was the transition like from playing college to playing professionally?MH: In college, I played every game, I rarely came off the field, I played 90 minutes and out, I was captain my junior and senior year, I was named second-team All-ACC — everything was hard, but it was also easy. Everyone tells you you’re the best, everyone tells you all these amazing things about yourself. And then you get to the pro level and you’re a rookie, and literally you are back to the bottom after over a decade of playing soccer. They don’t teach you the coping mechanisms for that.TR: How did you deal with that?MH:&nbsp;I think because of who I am and the family that raised me, I never really addressed when things were difficult. Being able to validate an experience, like, “It’s okay to be upset, it’s okay to not always be perfect, it’s okay to not always achieve that excellence that you are pursuing every single day.” I was so used to “rub some dirt in it, get over it, if you’re having a bad day just push it down.” Pushing all of that down for my whole life came up in these crazy ways my first few years as a pro, where you’re suddenly doubting yourself and your confidence is dampened because you are not playing a game. I realized that I put too much value in just being on the field and put not enough value in the fact that I’d made it to this level.TR: When you reflect on your journey, what has changed? What have you learned since you started playing professionally?MH: I can see how easily doubt and hesitation can derail a career. This is my seventh year as a professional soccer player. Personally, I don’t think I ever gave myself enough credit for being a good soccer player until I was older and was able to look back. In the moment, you feel like you are executing the mission every single day. You come in, you train hard, you play hard. But I don’t think I gave myself the credit I’d earned. One thing I want to get better at is celebrating my journey.

Madison and TJ Kahoalii, a soccer player who is Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) are the faces of Nike’s summer ‘26 N7 Collection.

TR: What does this <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nike.com/n7-native-american-indigenous-heritage" target="_blank">N7 Collection</a> represent to you? How does it feel to now have a role in bringing it to life?MH: To me, N7 represents opportunities for education and conversation and shows how incredible all these different communities and tribes are. I think that this collection shows that we can be a part of the mainstream culture. It is a dope example of Indigenous design influences, and it’s come together into something that feels really authentic. There’s a design motif that mimics a modern pueblo; the colors represent the mountainous terrain, clay and water. All of these things bring so much meaning to me, my family and my people.&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-s-new-n7-collection-celebrates-indigenous-communities-on-and-off-the-pitch" target="_blank">It feels like such an honor to have this N7 Collection come to life</a> and have it centered around soccer and Indigenous people from the Southwest — and to be the face of it. It is a unique blend of everything I am.TR: What is your goal as a representative of your community?MH: As a woman of color, one of my foundational pillars is to be an active participant in the communities that I occupy. I think having that consistency in my traditions and beliefs has given me the confidence to live bravely in the sports world. It can be a lonely place, and by using the innate experiences that I have access to as an Indigenous and Black woman, I can approach every team I’m on with the same perspective and desire to be an active participant and the best teammate that I can be.TR: How would you like to inspire the next generation of Native American athletes?MH: I think the best way I could inspire the next generation of Native athletes is to continue striving for on-field excellence and remember to give back to where I came from. Now there are Native athletes doing amazing things; there’s Janee’ Kassanavoid and SilentRain Espinoza. It makes me feel really positive to know that I’m not alone in carrying that message of visibility and opportunity. It’s a reminder that when you give pathways to people in my community, we will deliver.TR: What kind of legacy do you want to leave?MH: I hope to be a reminder to young people that if you come from a small town, it’s okay. If you come from a small community, it’s okay. You can still make it to this level.

"When you give pathways to people in my community, we will deliver," says the Utah Royals defensive midfielder.

How I Got Here

On the Road to Excellence, Madison Hammond Is Celebrating the Journey

On an early Wednesday morning in February, Amy Montagne stands in front of a small production team in the Serena Williams Building on the Philip H. Knight Campus in Beaverton, Oregon. The President of Nike has a presence — commanding, assured and dressed in hues of black. She stands on a makeshift stage while the crew adjusts the lights. Whether or not the camera’s recording, Montagne is on, personable and assertive and ready to go, despite waking up well before sunrise. She says the energy and passion it takes to do that day over day, week over week, comes from the shared dedication of the teammates surrounding her during her more than two decades with the company: “Bringing my A game is critical to my role, because I want to rise to the level of the people around me.”Montagne is filming a message for the global Nike Team Meeting in Milan, a thank you to the tens of thousands of worldwide employees for the hard work leading up to the winter’s major sport moments — the Super Bowl, All-Star Weekend, the Winter Olympics — and a rallying cry for the hard work everyone knows is still ahead. After her first read-through under the lights, a make-up artist dabs her face with a sponge while she listens to feedback. Her delivery — only two takes! — earns applause, and she laughs. “This is not a normal day,” she promises.But when a day in the life of the president of the world’s largest sports brand can encompass anything from lunching with premier athletes to leading meetings on global sport brand strategy to snapping a pic with Kim Kardashian for her Instagram grid during the NikeSKIMS launch in New York (this one jackpotted Montagne cool points with her triplet teenage sons), maybe the normalcy is found in accepting that every day will be different. And that’s exactly what she loves about it. “Each day, you get new information: People loved a certain product drop, a new sport campaign resonated with a specific community, an athlete’s authentic style led to a whole new way of dressing to compete,” she says. “The energy of that immediate response from people who love Nike is what inspires me.” The question that she has asked herself to guide each unique day over her two decades at the company remains the same: “How do we lead our teammates and this brand to greatness?”

When Elliott Hill accepted the NIKE, Inc. President &amp; CEO position in 2024, bringing the company back to its sport roots and focusing on the athlete was at the top of his to-do list. Nike needed a turnaround. After years of dominance, the brand was no longer the untouchable giant in the sports industry, and upstart brands were clawing away at the Swoosh marketshare. Nike’s once-clear mandate to be steeped in sport by listening and serving the athlete had turned murky. Finding a visionary leader to drive a vigorous reestablishment of the brand's credo was key, and the path to that had to be through strengthening the relationship with athletes (and that means Nike’s definition of “athlete” — anyone who has a body).Hill needed a trusted leader for the Nike brand who could lead its new Sport Offense, a plan that rebuilt the company and its priorities by sport, allowing teams to go deep on what those specific athletes need. This right-hand leader would need a not only a mind for end-to-end strategy, a commitment to innovation, and an adroitness for emotional storytelling, but also the skills to make deliberate choices to strengthen the business for the long term, activating Nike’s many levers to connect with athletes, sport communities and fans across the world. Hill had a clear choice: Amy Montagne.Over her 12 roles and 21 years at the company, Montagne had established herself as a healthy balance of left- and right-brain — an outside-the-box thinker who also uses “spreadsheet” as a verb — and was a motivating force behind Nike’s new sport-first operating model. “She always asks, ‘How is this connected back to sport, back to the athletes?’” says Hill, outlining her strategic filter. That comes from her unwavering dedication to the benefits of sport that go beyond playing: In high school, for example, Montagne tried out for the basketball team but didn’t make the cut. Instead of walking away, she doubled down and became the team’s statistician, a role that encapsulated her talent, her secret sauce: She can see the whole court, identify people’s unique abilities and skill sets, and use that data to help make the whole team better.

Montagne is a straight shooter, with the sort of no-filler management style that makes it clear what she’s thinking. If she works with you, she believes in you. And she’s the first to admit that she expects big things. But she knows that success is achieved only by pushing past what you think are your limits, and as a team. Charles Williams, Global Vice President of Footwear, wasn’t remotely surprised when Montagne became the president of the Nike brand. For years, he’d known her as a “courageous, empowering” leader, one who was just as likely to come meet Williams in his office as he is to meet her in hers. It’s a small gesture with a big ripple effect. Not only does it show respect for his time, says Williams, but it’s also an opportunity for more junior employees to get a bit of face time with her. Hill likens her to a coach and notes how many relationships she’s fostered during her time at Nike. “Because of Amy’s level of clarity and accountability, she builds trust with the team, and then you get the followership,” he says.Once, Montagne received feedback from her team that, while she has extremely high expectations, they knew that she has those same high bars for herself above all. “It was one of those moments where I felt really seen for who I am,” she says. And that approach has resulted in a genuine loyalty between Montagne and her teams — she gives people the tools, guidance and space to be great, and in return, they are.&nbsp;

Nike’s winning history is never far from Montagne’s mind. It excites her that everyone around her knows they have big, and well-made, shoes to fill. “Every product, every story we tell, every marketplace execution has to be done with uncompromising excellence,” she says. How does she make that happen? By asking honest questions. Is the product living up to our expectations, what we know this company is capable of? Is that the best way to tell the story? Is the execution the most premium, sustainable way we can do it? Did we give it absolutely everything?If that philosophy sounds almost unbelievably driven, well, that’s on purpose. And it’s what makes her ideal for the job. “Amy's the leader Nike needs right now,” says Hill, “and I believe the structure we have in place, the team she’s put in place, the expectation that she set, is going to give us that sharp clarity against the different consumers we’re serving, and that will unlock another wave of growth.”

Only recently has Montagne allowed herself — her full self — to be seen in the workplace. Early on in her career, working at the corporate headquarters for The Gap, in San Francisco, she was known for leaving her personal life at the door. Work was work, home was home, and never the two shall meet. “She has a strength to compartmentalize things to be able to move through adversity,” says Janet Hayes, her former coworker, longtime friend and current CEO of Crate &amp; Barrel. But that also meant that people had a harder time getting to know her. “I’m watching her now, in the last couple of years, become a different kind of leader who is braver and a little more vulnerable, and I think that’s an evolution of her leadership that’s going to take her far,” says Hayes.&nbsp;For Montagne, the shared trauma of the pandemic illuminated a new managerial approach. For the first time in her career, everyone she knew was going through the same struggle. There was no reason to pretend it wasn’t happening, so why not face it head on? The comfort that came with that allowed her to bring more of her personal life into the workplace. Not as a proselytizer, but as a person. “I am who I am because of the life experiences I’ve had,” she says. Having kids later in life, going through a difficult IVF journey, having triplets when she thought she was having a single child, and being all too familiar with grief and family loss&nbsp;— these are truths, as integral to understanding Montagne as her management style or work habits. “We all have these things, and you find the right ways to bring your personal and professional lives together; to be your true, authentic self; and to support people to be theirs,” she says.Seeing a leader like Montagne be vulnerable and sincere in the workplace has allowed others to do the same. “She’s a real one,” says Williams. “You need that in this organization, because it shows people they can be themselves.”

Montagne’s true self at Nike is pure energy. She has a palpable enthusiasm for the job, a humming aura around her. Her role today is a culmination of a steady focus throughout her career, starting from what drove her when she was working retail in high school in Arizona: a curiosity about the consumer. Even then, she was fascinated by buying habits. What do people like? Why do they buy the things they do? How does fit, color and style make a difference? That desire for understanding makes just as much sense for Montagne now as it did back then. “In a big company, driving billions of dollars of revenue, everything gets clear when you come back to a consumer and their insights,” she says. “Nike can seem so big, but in the end, we’re shop owners.”As an undergrad at Santa Clara University, she enrolled in the retail management institute, where that curiosity became a tenable career path: This was an actual job, being a buyer for a store. “And that was it!” she says. Her path unfurled before her, like a finger before it beckons. She graduated with a degree in communications, sharpening the storytelling skills that now drive Nike’s most simple and powerful message: that sport can change the world. That’s a fact Montagne’s seen time and time again, be it watching her kids commit to and improve at a new skill or being part of grand moments, like the Super Bowl or World Cup. “In a world today that has so much challenge and change, sport is the unifier that really brings people together,” says Montagne.

After graduation, she completed buyer training at Walmart headquarters and took a role as an allocation analyst at Gap Inc., capping off 11-hour days by running across the Golden Gate Bridge, training for marathons with friends. Her sport of choice has changed — now you’re more likely to find her in a pilates studio or cycling class — but her tenacity and drive for excellence is the same. Her husband, Pete, formerly a category manager at Nike, calls her the hardest worker he’s ever met. (Their pairing was a matter of fate; though they attended the same college, they didn’t meet until after graduating, when Pete was working at Nike and Amy had just started.) More than anything, Pete says, Amy is smart, sharp and prepared. Though that hasn’t always come easily; she’s had her fair share of shoot-down remarks, plenty of times where she’s been the only woman in the room, he says. “What she does that sets her apart is create a culture of inclusivity. She cares about her team, about mentorship, about elevating people’s careers.”

Her passion and commitment to champion women is well-represented in her office, on the fifth floor of the Sebastian Coe Building, where an oversize copy of the company’s 1996 print ad “If You Let Me Play” sits on her desk. Working with top athletes like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins is one of the most fulfilling parts of her job, which includes “doing everything I can to show them support — that we want to learn, listen and meet them where they are, and keep doing that as they succeed,” she says. The bar isn’t what the world expects Nike to do. “It’s giving so much more than that,” she says, “what we know our athletes deserve.”When Montagne took over her current role in May 2025, she and her team went on a retreat to hammer out a clear vision for the Nike brand. The company will always be about sport, they contended, but the evolution had to come from following the lead of the Nike athlete. “They don’t compete just to be like anybody else,” she says. “They say, ‘I can do it better, faster, stronger, more stylish.’ They break things to be better — and that’s what we’re meant to do too.”

For Montagne, that means taking her vision of the Nike Sport Offense — establishing more than a dozen specific sport focuses and creating the teams that power them — and nurturing those sport cultures, from running and global football and basketball to golf, tennis, training and more. Each of these has its own personality, energy and nuances, and, essential for Nike, its own aesthetic. For example, the look of running, Montagne says, is style, for everyday and professional athletes alike. She points to Sha’Carri Richardson, who doesn’t run fast and break records in spite of her long nails or false lashes — she does so because of them, how they allow her to be her authentic self. Show up as the most real version of you, Montagne says, and you perform at your best. That’s a tenant that stretches across sports. “Look at the relaunch of the ACG brand at the Winter Games,” she points out. “The brand has legitimate outdoor legacy and innovation, and products that speak to an epic, unique style.”As our interview ends, Montagne is in her fifth floor office, seated at her desk and turning to the next events of the day: meetings, presentations, preparations. You can see her mind whirring, just like that high-school statistician. The court is bigger, but her diligence has remained the same. She’s surveying, watching her teams’ plays and noting what must happen next to make everyone, and the brand, better. The through line, to be sure, will be sport. To know where Nike is going next, look to where the energy is in the world behind sports, behind athletes. Wherever you find that, you’ll find Nike, supporting, listening, learning — and fiercely competing like no other.

With more than 20 years of experience over 12 roles, the brand President is guiding Nike’s new Sport Offense, taking the company back to its athlete-first roots, and strengthening the business for the long term.

Amy Montagne: The Force Returning Nike to Sport

Five games into his professional career, on his third straight road 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 fadeways 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 skinner 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 realize 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 organization. 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 organization 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 organization. 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 is 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 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

There is a moment Martin Lotti still sees clearly in his mind. He was 16 years old, a Swiss exchange student standing in the original Niketown in Portland, Ore. — a kid from Fribourg, a town of fewer than 40,000 people, who had arrived in the Pacific Northwest for what was supposed to be two weeks and became a year. He left Niketown holding a pair of Air Max 180s and a Michael Jordan Wings poster, the one that reads:&nbsp;"No bird soars too high if it soars with its own wings."&nbsp;His host family snapped a photo of him outside the store, mid-Jumpman pose, arms wide, grinning.That photograph would travel with him across two decades of craft, curiosity and creative ambition. And one day, while serving as Chief Design Officer for the Jordan Brand, Lotti stood in front of Michael Jordan himself and showed him the image."This is why I fell in love with the brand as a 16-year-old,"&nbsp;he says, sitting at the Philip H. Knight Campus on a cool February morning, dressed in an immaculate all-white fit that reflects an understated confidence.&nbsp;"To have the person from the poster over your bed actually standing in front of you — that was surreal. One of those moments where you think: How did I get here?"

Getting to Nike was never a straight line — and that, Lotti will tell you, is exactly the point. After finishing high school in Switzerland, he enrolled at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. A woman in his visual communications class mentioned she'd interned at Nike, which piqued his curiosity. He sent in an application, Nike sent back a job offer. He would later marry that classmate, Linda Mai-Lotti, a detail he shares with a quiet smile that suggests he still can't quite believe his own story.What Nike represented to Lotti, and still does, was something he didn't have a word for growing up in Europe.&nbsp;"In Switzerland, it's more step by step,"&nbsp;he says.&nbsp;"The leash gets longer one step at a time. Whereas in the U.S., the opportunity is just …there for the taking. It doesn't matter how old you are or where you're from. If you can bring it, you get the chance to design it."That belief — that potential has no ceiling — became the foundation of how Lotti designs, leads and sees the world.

Today, Lotti serves as Nike’s Chief Design Officer, representing the Swoosh in major cultural moments such as <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-and-dropcity-preview-air-lab-an-innovative-space-for-creatives-in-milan-s-center" target="_blank">Milan Design Week</a>, and overseeing product and concept design across the company — an enormous responsibility he approaches with the same grounded clarity that has defined his career. A good designer is a good listener first, he says, because creation is so reliant on input, from the athletes, of data sets, for how to support the product with the right storytelling. The why of your creation — who you're creating for and what problem you're solving — is what delineates a designer from an artist. "Design is not just executing or sketching; we are problem solvers," Lotti says. "<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/bill-bowerman-nike-s-original-innovator" target="null">Bill Bowerman</a> baked this into the DNA of the company: You create for a reason, not just because you can." He also points out that this is no simple task. "Creativity is often romanticized. It's painful! I think it's like a marathon. It takes time, you have to lean in, and in the end you're exhausted and elated."The drive to continue that process runs deep within Lotti. There is a phrase he returns to again and again, a quiet north star beneath everything he creates:&nbsp;making people fly.&nbsp;He didn't fully understand its weight until his team began working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he watched critically ill children choose, as their wish, to spend time with Jordan Brand designers."Not everyone can be Michael Jordan, but everyone can make someone feel something," he says, his voice measured, the words deliberate.&nbsp;"After something like that, you don't come in the next day and just make another shoe."He invokes Steve Jobs' idea of leaving a dent in the universe — of finding your platform and using it with intention.&nbsp;"We have this reach, and I don't take it for granted,"&nbsp;he says.&nbsp;"It's not just an opportunity. It's an obligation to make an impact." That impact is felt within Nike too. "There's no one who pushes me more than Martin," says <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/company/people/nicole-graham" target="_blank">Nicole Graham</a>, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer. "He's so good that it makes you want to be better; he'll come up with a great idea, which will make you want to come up with a great idea." That mindset, says Graham, comes from the way Lotti looks at the world. "He can walk down the street and see 18 different things that could be interesting for a project that we're working on — color, material, font, topography. He lives and breathes creativity and design."

Lotti's design philosophy goes beyond aesthetics or function. He wants his teams to truly understand athletes — not just what they need from a product, but what drives them, what they carry onto the field, what makes them feel seen and inspired.In 2014, a Brazilian footballer described his&nbsp;why&nbsp;to Lotti's team:&nbsp;"We play for the love of the game and for the love of Brazil,"&nbsp;the player said, grabbing his shirt as he spoke. The gesture unlocked something. The jersey wasn't just a piece of clothing; it was a symbol of pride, an encapsulation of purpose.That year, the team printed in Portuguese&nbsp;"nascido para jogar futebol"&nbsp;— born to play football — on the inside of the jersey. So that every time a player placed his hand over his heart during the national anthem, he'd feel the purpose beneath it."You aren't just listening to what athletes say about what they need,"&nbsp;Lotti says.&nbsp;"You want to hear the person. You want to understand what makes them tick."Sometimes, Lotti and his team's inspiration is more abstract. It surfaces in the raked gravel of a Zen garden in Kyoto, Japan, which became the outsole geometry of the Nike Kyoto, the brand's first yoga-inspired shoe, its upper a subtle nod to the kimono's wrap. Or it can live in the stark, earthy palette of Iceland, which shaped a fall and holiday training collection.This is one of the quiet gifts of being based in Portland, he says. You’re required to go out, seek, learn. "We’re more global citizens, which I love, because so many doors open up when you go to new places.”

His wife Linda describes Lotti as an athlete — not just literally (he competed and taught snowboarding), but in the way he approaches his craft. When their professor in school assigned 10 sketches, Martin did 20. Not because he had to, but because the work was alive to him, and the push to keep refining it would never rest. Curiosity, for Lotti, isn't something you switch off.That energy surfaces everywhere. A recent trip to a car dealership ended with a salesperson offering him a job, only half-jokingly. He'd arrived knowing more about every model and option than the staff.&nbsp;"He's able to stay focused and keep working until he plows through it and finds the solution,"&nbsp;Linda says.&nbsp;"Like an elite athlete with a relentless drive to grow and perfect. Just in a very different arena."We're sitting in the Energy Product Design space in the Mia Hamm building, and Lotti is flipping through the pages of the Nike Design Annual, a thick-stock magazine containing a sweeping overview of the best that the Nike brand has done in the past year, through a range of sport, athlete and product moments. “We’re so focused on the future, being able to look back is almost cathartic, and it allows us to set a benchmark: if you want to be in this book, it has to be a certain level,” Lotti says. “It’s a way to celebrate the team.”The team Lotti's gathered, says Graham, is unmatched. "One of Martin's most meaningful contributions to Nike is the creative community he's nurtured," she says. "When you're on Martin Lotti's team, you feel like you're one of the most creative people in the world — and that's exactly what he wants you to feel, how he's empowered people to feel." You see the impact of that in this year's Nike Design Annual, which includes 25 of the most innovative pieces the company produced in 2025. Many are feats of the unexpected, breaking the mold — like the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/what-is-nike-radical-airflow" target="null">Nike Radical AirFlow</a> long-sleeve for ultra-marathons. People were skeptical at first of the long-sleeve jersey meant to cool you down, says Lotti, with some even affectionately dubbing it the "Christmas sweater." Lotti laughs about it even now. “Believing is wearing it,” he says, “it’s like air conditioning for your body. You pump your arms while you run, and the material creates little cyclones of airflow. That’s its geometry — it’s naturally cooling.”

Throughout our conversation, Lotti emphasized the uniqueness of working on design at a company like Nike: the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/what-is-nike-air-liquid-max" target="_blank">cutting-edge technology</a>, like the nascent ability to create prototypes from 3D printers or virtual mockups; the eye toward sustainability, shown in&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-aero-fit-official-images" target="null">the new base material, Aero-FIT</a>, for&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/collections/nike-football-unveils-2026-federation-kits-featuring-aero-fit-performance-cooling-technology" target="null">all football jerseys</a> that are more breathable for athletes&nbsp;and&nbsp;have a lower environmental impact to create; the&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/magazine/meet-the-nike-mind-team" target="null">Mind Science team</a>, which focuses on improving athlete experience from the neck up.This depth and range creates the perfect balance of humanness, enterprise and technology that Lotti seeks. That even the executive chairman, Mark Parker, shares Lotti's design background makes Lotti’s work all the more fulfilling. “It makes our life so much easier to see design as part of the foundation of the company," he says, dancing his fingertips over the tabletop. "It’s not an afterthought. It’s central to everything we do.”That belief extends to how Lotti thinks about risk — not as something to manage, but as something to embrace, to push Nike to new places. "Calculated risk is what athletes do every day," he says. "They don’t try to replicate their fastest time or most powerful serve or heaviest weight, they want to be better. The best."Why shouldn't we all?

"Design is not just executing or sketching," says the Chief Design Officer. "We are problem solvers."

Martin Lotti is Driving a New Wave of Creativity at Nike

There’s a season for everything. For Sophia Wilson, the all-league forward on the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, her journey to the pitch also included basketball. She started on her varsity team as a freshman at Fossil Ridge High School in Colorado, enjoying a sport that has deep ties to her family; her dad played at the University of Wyoming, and her older sister Savannah remains the all-time leading scorer at the University of Northern Colorado. Still, as much as Sophia enjoyed the court, soccer felt different to her: She felt freer and more creative when she played on the pitch. She turned the page on basketball in high school.Since then, she’s channeled her relentless competitive drive toward becoming one of the world’s most elite soccer forwards. You’d need a pushpin map to keep track of the places she’s brought her winning ways to, places like Denver, Palo Alto and Portland. How has she taken the unfolding of her career? One season at a time.Below, in her own words, Sophia shares more about her formative years as a young athlete, the concept of seasonality as a pro player, and her new season of life as a parent.&nbsp; As a kid, I don’t know of a specific moment when I knew I had a talent for soccer, but I do remember right when I started that I felt more comfortable doing it than the people around me.&nbsp;I ran track. I did gymnastics when I was little. I played basketball and volleyball. I honestly really loved every sport I played. But I think it goes back to feeling the most comfortable in myself playing soccer.Watching family play can be the best introduction to sport.&nbsp;I have two older sisters who played soccer growing up, so I was always going to their games, watching them play. I tried out for a team as soon as I was old enough and fell in love with it right away. I felt good about challenging myself at a really early age when I would play up in age groups. It was then when I realized I was a few steps ahead of other people, and I felt like soccer could be special for me.Parents have just as much influence on your development as coaches do.&nbsp;My parents were always confident in me, supporting me in anything I wanted to do, like when I wanted to play up in age groups or play with the boys. My dad would always tell me, “Never let anyone or anything take your confidence away.” I feel like that applies to not just athletes but everyone. There will always be times where people question you, question what you bring to the table. If you remain confident in who you are, you can do anything.

As a club player, sometimes success isn’t just about talent.&nbsp;Sometimes it’s about being seen. I started playing for Real Colorado when I was 14. I made that move because Real is one of the best clubs in Colorado, and they’re in a league that goes to showcases, and that’s where college coaches go to scout players. I knew that if I wanted to keep getting to the next level, I would need to play in a league where you’re seen. Moving to Real is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I learned so much about the game and about myself.A pro career is a 12-month-long season in the sense that every part of the year amounts to a specific goal.&nbsp;The year is long, going from March to November. We have a very short off season from end of November through December, and then we start back again in January. Mixed within that is national team camps once a month. And then, during specific years, you’ll have a global tournament It’s go, go, go nonstop.&nbsp;There’s nothing like your home crowd. I’ve played in a lot of stadiums and in front of a lot of fan bases, and there’s really no place like Portland.&nbsp;What separates this fan base from the rest is that you hear the support of every single fan during every single game, even if it’s pouring rain, The atmosphere is contagious. You don’t want the matches to end. Representing Portland is special, trying to give back in any way I can to the fan base that has given me so much.&nbsp;Parenthood and being a pro aren’t mutually exclusive.&nbsp;This season, I get to return to doing a sport I love while also having a little best friend in my daughter. Parenthood is challenging in its own ways. Obviously, you’re coming off a year being away from the game. Your body went through so many changes. Physically, you’re trying to get back to playing at a high level. It’s been hard work, but I love the process of it, honestly, and I'm excited to see it pay off when I get to play in my first game back.I’m in a season of my career where I understand how every little interaction I have with fans is significant.&nbsp;I have so many interactions with young fans, little girls and boys, and I see how much we inspire them to work hard for their goals. One of the best parts about my job is that you get to inspire all these fans in different ways, encouraging them that they can reach their goals too.&nbsp;

As the NWSL season kicks off, the all-league forward and Team USA star shares what’s shaped her pro football career so far, and what she wants next.

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From his first year traveling 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) out of 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 scrimmaged.

— 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-meter and the 200-meter. 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-meter 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 September 14th, 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-meter 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-meter and the 200-meter 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-meter time in the world this year, and I’m top five in the 200-meter, 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 September 14th, 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-meter 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-meter 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 realize 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 realized 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, 8 am. 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 changed. 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

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 finish 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 realized 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 program’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 than 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 neighborhood 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 tick 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 defense, talking to your teammates, bringing the energy, that’s really important too. And obviously, off the court, being a great student.”

Ava was recently recognized 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 recognized 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 to L.A. and the sun is blazing, temperature 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 forward.&nbsp; That feeling crystallizes as both the boys and girls Mamba League Invitational champions hoist their trophies at center 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, 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 program 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 Fueling the Next Era of Elite Hoopers

After raising his hands in disbelief when he crossed the tape at U.S. 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 mom, 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 homestretch. 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 toward 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, will forgo his remaining high school athletic 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 Program, which he joined as a freshman. 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 U.S. 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 Program 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 program 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 USA’s 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 Program 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 program. 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 modeling it at our high school program.&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 —&nbsp;but 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 modernized 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, honoring 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 —&nbsp;a balance of performance, style and story — has always been at the center 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 turned heads, but it also. It challenged expectations —&nbsp;not only of what athletes could wear and 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&nbsp;—&nbsp;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 optimizing 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;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nike.com/w/acg-trail-running-75jcnz93bsd" target="_blank">Trail running</a> 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-kilometer vertical climbs to multi-day staged events across inhospitable conditions. Case in point: the iconic 100-mile race based in California’s Sierra Nevadas frequently reaches temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while runners are surmounting altitude changes of more than 18,000 feet of elevation gain and 23,000 feet 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 backyard 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 maximize 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 maximizing 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 re-thinking traditional mesh and ventilation options, the team hypothesized that engineered airducts throughout the garment could capture air, speed it up and funnel it through the garment’s holes toward the skin. As the athlete runs forward, 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.

Radical AirFlow

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 under and arm bend were added to maximize mobility and airflow, and to help reduce the risk of chafing.

The top features a cropped hem to help minimize 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 grueling 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 DriFit and Radical AirFlow garments in environmental climate chamber simulations to assess how Radical AirFlow compared against Nike’s tried and true material technology. From these tests, Nike scientists learned that when compared to DriFit, 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 DriFit.

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.”

Nike Radical AirFlow Slow Motion Hero

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

Nike Radical AirFlow Debuts a New Era of Breathable Apparel

When he debuted the Kobe 3 in 2007, Kobe Bryant subverted expectations, just as expected. The Lakers played an away game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 20, days before the signature players from other brands would reveal their holiday colorways, alight in wintery themes. His Kobe 3: Black. No nonsense.&nbsp;That legacy of stealthy, unsung precursor defines the Kobe 3. It preceded arguably the most influential lowtop in basketball history. It preceded what became Nike Basketball’s “Signature Shoe” in the Hyperdunk, which would debut in the summer of ‘08. And yet, the 3 is immovable in Kobe’s footwear legacy. He wore it for his decisive MVP campaign in the ’07-’08 season. And, talk to any Kobe fan: it’s a cult favorite, raising basketball shoe design to an elevated art form.

<h3>How We Made It</h3>Before the Kobe 3, the Kobe 2 sought to be the most technically advanced footwear in basketball. But its overt technology — modeled after the functionality of Nike Free and barefoot movement — emphasized a kind of science as its aesthetic. Nike Basketball Creative Director Eric Avar, who took back the reigns of the Kobe line with the 3, wanted to fuse performance and artistry into the design of the Kobe 3.“Kobe was probably one of, if not the most progressive players I ever worked with in terms of wanting to push performance technology in design,” says Avar.&nbsp;

But the shoe wasn’t love at first sight. Even Kobe knew the shoe’s design would be polarizing.“When people first saw the shoe, they were like, ‘Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know,” Kobe would remark with a laugh.&nbsp;The Kobe 3 released to the public in 2008 in the Orca colorway. Across the mid top's upper was an all-over pattern of striped TPU caging made to resemble basketball netting. The forefoot and heel Zoom units were bridged by a carbon fiber shank, which helped the shoe maintain its torsional rigidity during sharp movements. The midsole featured Lunarlon Cushioning, a first for the Kobe line. On the outsole tread, the traction pattern was arranged in diamond shapes, inspired by the middle name, Diamante, of Kobe’s daughter Natalia.&nbsp;

<h3>How It Took Off</h3>Kobe Bryant wore the Kobe 3 en route to his MVP award in 2008. In the postseason, he’d lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals, where they fell just short of an NBA title. The season might not have been Bryant’s best statistically, but it was arguably the height of his presence across basketball. He was everywhere in 2008. MVP. First-Team All League. First-Team All League Defense. Co-Captain of Team USA’s Redeem Team. He put together all of the pieces of his game, meanwhile directing his teams as the undisputed Alpha leader.As the releases continued, the shoe took on more expressive looks, thanks to the shoe’s upper design being conducive to an imaginative palette. Christmas Day against the Phoenix Suns featured an unmistakable yellow and purple combination. In the ‘08 All-Star Game, though he only played a few minutes because of a torn ligament in his pinky (Of course he played), he laced up a deep red and gold colorway. In 2013, the Kobe 3 was re-released as part of Nike’s Prelude Pack in the Kobe line. While seven of the shoes were based off of his career milestones, only one shoe was inspired by a setback: the Kobe 3. The black colorway was covered by a custom fresco-style graphic, inspired by the swirling psychological torment that Kobe felt upon losing the 2008 NBA Finals.&nbsp;

<h3>What’s Next</h3>The Kobe 3 is <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/kobe-3-protro-halo-official-images" target="_blank">the latest model to receive the Protro treatment</a>. The upper now has a mesh backing against the TPU netting to provide greater support. The midsole features a full-length Zoom Strobel. The traction has been retooled. Even the tongue was revamped to be more comfortable. No feature was ignored for a modern tech upgrade. It’s maybe the most expansive Protro to date.“We were always pushing the limits of Kobe’s shoe to be faster, more precise and to be modern,” says Avar. “Kobe was big on being bold, aggressive, provocative and making an impact. Working together, we were on a never-ending quest for the perfect shoe from him.”

A legacy as stealthy, unsung precursor defines the Kobe III. And yet, it's immovable in Kobe’s footwear legacy.

History

Icons

The History of the Kobe III

While most of us got through middle 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 organized track, and intent on sealing the record by the end of the school year. Her father John took her to a college track on a cold fall afternoon for 400-meter 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 high school, Jane Hedengren has established herself as one of the most accomplished amateur distance runners in American history. She arguably had the most dominant high school season ever in 2024, male or female, breaking nine high 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 Program, 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 starting her own collegiate running career at BYU in the fall.

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 program, 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 fall 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 realized I had a talent probably right around my sophomore year of high 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 college 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 medaling 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 high 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

On a late July afternoon, while his three-year-old twins were napping, American shotputter Joe Kovacs went to the basement of his home in Dublin, Ohio. He was bored, so he figured he’d get in some light training. He loaded 540 pounds on his barbell and benched it for a breezy double, no music, with the U.S. Open playing on his television in the background.You could easily assume that this casual power is what makes Kovacs so accomplished in the shotput. He’s won the world championships twice, he was the Olympic silver medalist in 2016, and his outdoor PB of 23.23 m (76 ft 2 1/2 in) is the second farthest throw of all time. But a shotputter has ideal biomechanical proportions, and at a height of 6 feet, Kovac’s strength is a requirement to stay at the top of his event.&nbsp;“I need to stay strong and powerful, because the shorter you are, the less you can use your body’s levers to your advantage,” says Kovacs. “Some guys in the Diamond League roster are 5, 6 inches taller than I am. They can generate velocity through their levers in ways that I can’t.”&nbsp;Plus, all that brute strength is simply the end note to the most important facet of his technique. “Velocity is what makes the difference in a big throw — strength plus speed. That combination starts with your footwork,” he says.&nbsp;Here, Kovacs calls out the essential elements for a winning throw. Look for them when he steps into the shotput ring this weekend in Silesia.

The ShoesA shotputter’s real estate is small: a circle just seven feet in diameter. Feel is everything in a performance zone this tight. That’s why footwear is an uncompromising part of a thrower’s toolkit.&nbsp;Kovacs, along with many other pro shotputters, opt for the Nike Zoom SD. The no-sew upper conforms to the foot,&nbsp;the Flywire cables help keep his center of gravity over the footbed as he’s generating immense force on the spin, and the textured outsole offers him more ground feel as he’s traveling across the circle. This season, Kovacs has been testing a new version of the SD currently under development, which includes a carbon fiber plate. He laced them up out of the box during this year’s Pre Classic in July, took his practice throws, and promptly delivered one of the best throws in the world this year, a 22.48 meter heave.“It gives that diving board affect, but because it’s so thin, I can still feel all the textures of the circle,” he says. “Shotputters are ultimately trying to sprint from one end of the circle to the other. If your feet aren’t locked into the ground, you leak the energy you could be channeling into your throw.”

The SpinThe first bit of wisdom Kovacs received as a young thrower came from American shotputter Reese Hoffa, another Olympic medalist and former world champion, during a high school camp in Pennsylvania. Don’t do the glide, said Hoffa — a technique where the thrower moves linearly across the circle, without rotating. He told Kovacs he could generate more velocity by trying the spin instead, an unusual recommendation for a young thrower. Out of principle, almost all high school throwers learn the glide first, as it doesn’t require the coordination of the spin.The result: Kovacs creates an insane level of speed as he exits the spin and launches the shotput off his neck. He suggests fans to look for speed across the circle as the separating variable between a good throw and a great throw, no matter how massive an athlete looks.

The SignalsOne of the best parts about track and field, Kovacs says, is the unbiased measurement of an athlete’s performance. It’s the stopwatch and the measuring tape that determine the winner. That said, there are subtler cues that can tip a viewer off to whether a throw has something special. Listen for the sounds of a thrower’s ground contact across the circle, their shoes scraping the surface. More ground contact usually means a good throw. (Notice a theme? It all goes back to footwork).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another cue to watch: the level of spin on the shotput as it soars through the air. If it’s spinning, it means the thrower didn’t get all of their force behind it. Kovacs uses a cueball in pool as an example. A weaker shot is one that’s wobbling and spinning after contact with the pool cue. Sometimes, in practice, Kovacs will write his name on the shotput in permanent marker so that the spin is legible to him and his team.“My whole career has been one big experiment in combining all these elements of a throw. It becomes this puzzle, or a game, something you’re always trying to perfect. What if I try this? What if I change this? Those decisions involve all these different facets, from strength, to timing, to technique. For me, that experimenting will never stop being fun.”

The two-time world champion gives some advice on how to watch the shotput. Spoiler: It’s not all about strength.