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.

Journey of an Icon: 20 Years of LeBron James in China

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

Handshake_Homepage_Loop

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

Department of Nike Archives

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

History

The Handshake That Started It All

About Nike - Stories from Inside NIKE, Inc.

Geoff Lowe is a dynamic sports photographer originally from South Africa, now based in Italy. With a background in track and field, he brings a unique insider’s perspective to his photography, capturing the emotion, rhythm, and intensity of athletes in motion. His images go beyond documentation; they turn athletic performance into visual poetry. Known for his artistic composite technique, Lowe uses ultra-fast sequences to create layered images that reveal movement over time — sprinting, jumping, swimming, and diving — all unfolding in a single frame.

Geoff Lowe

Nike Cross Nationals famously takes everything a cross-country runner's got — here's what the sum of that looks like across dozens of runners, from photographer Geoff Lowe.

The Nike Moment

What It Looks Like to Finish On Empty

Experience what the champion runner was feeling minutes before attempting to break the 4-minute mile, through our photographer's lens.

Faith Kipyegon and Her Breaking4 Pacers Minutes Before History

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

When Niels Laros powered through to win this year's Bowerman Mile, our photographer was ready.

What It Takes to Capture a Photo Finish

Proof that football is a communal experience: these gripping images and videos from the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

This Year’s WAFCON Shows How Football Can Change a Nation

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

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

Incredible Scenes from the 50th Anniversary of the Pre Classic

Our Favorite Sports Images from 2025

Story Landing

3-Minute Portrait

Chicago’s running scene offers parks, paths and neighborhoods that beg to be explored on foot. We asked the Windrunners, a local run team, to highlight their seven must-see spots.

Fan 101

A Local’s Guide to Running Chicago

A Local's Guide for Where to Run in Chicago

How does Nike use athlete feedback? See and hear marathon GOAT Eliud Kipchoge’s line-by-line and word-for-word notes on your next best training shoe.

Hear From Our Ultimate Wear-Tester on the New Zoom Fly 6

We give the UConn do-it-all guard an off-court assignment: Guest editing her whirlwind tour of NYFW.

Behind the Scenes of Paige Bueckers' New York Fashion Week

When a mysterious pain in the Italian fencer's arm was becoming unbearable, doctors told her she might need to stop competing altogether. That's when Nike stepped in to help.

Feature

Matching Bebe Vio to Her Ultimate Fencing Tool

Former professional Esports gamer and Nike athlete Uzi challenged himself to run his first 26.2 — and changed his health and life in the process.

How a Marathon Can Turn a Life Around

Tatyana McFadden Motion Capture

An upgrade to one key product could be the unlock for the legendary track and field athlete to achieve her highest potential.

Tatyana McFadden Is the Fastest Woman Alive — the Nike Sport Research Lab Wanted to Help Her Get Faster

The fastest woman in the world has always possessed steely resolve. Hear her describe it.

Nike exists to serve the complete athlete, and shares their winning mentality. As a champion for athletes and sport, Nike partners with athletes who share the belief that sport can break barriers, push limits, spark change and move the world forward.

Brand of Athletes

For The Win

Born Tenacious: How Tatyana McFadden Became the Champion She Is Today

The two talk the importance of accountability, the beauty of setting random personal fitness goals, and the magic of unexpected synergy.

Stronger Together: Kaia Gerber and Kirsty Godso are Twin Flames

The duo talk championships, attitudes on the court, and leaving their mark on the game.

A’ja Wilson and Dawn Staley On Their Coach-Player Bond

Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy.

How Breaker Sunny Choi Preps for a Battle

We ask the track and field 400-meter hurdler how she closes the final stretch of the brutal event.

Anna Cockrell On Clearing Hurdles — Physical and Mental

Nike track and field coach Diljeet Taylor shares her secret to sprinting through the finish line.