Nike Unveils Keely Hodgkinson’s One-of-One Speed Suit: A Bespoke Expression of Racing Innovation

As one of the most exciting athletes in track and field today, Keely Hodgkinson has built her reputation on an unyielding pursuit of speed. She’s relentless, dominant and unapologetically herself — pushing the sport forward for a new generation of runners.

To power her performance and encourage all athletes to dream bigger, Nike is unveiling a new expression of speed with Hodgkinson at the center: a one-of-one speed suit that makes fast faster, enabling the speed and endurance required for Hodgkinson’s signature event, the 800-meter.

Reflecting Nike’s longstanding belief that every breakthrough starts with the athlete, Hodgkinson worked in close partnership with expert Nike designers and innovators to create a speed suit purpose-built to her exact specifications

The result is a fully integrated system of speed built around Hodgkinson’s performance needs: a full-body suit designed to deliver the greatest aerodynamic benefit with zero distractions, enabling the combination of speed and endurance required for one of the most grueling physical tests in sport.

The one-of-one speed suit equips Hodgkinson for the 800-meter, combining athlete insight, sport-science research and advanced product design.

“In this speed kit, I feel fast, free-flowing, comfortable and empowered,” says Hodgkinson, a Nike athlete since 2019.

Hodgkinson’s One-of-One Nike Speed Suit

Hodgkinson’s open-back, full-length, hooded Nike speed suit is designed to deliver the greatest aerodynamic benefit while offering maximum mobility and optimal comfort. Every detail has been meticulously crafted to help Hodgkinson perform at the highest level — not only to reduce energy loss from drag and mitigate the effects of heat and humidity, but also to ensure Hodgkinson feels fast, focused and confident.

In partnership with Hodgkinson, Nike innovators designed the speed suit with a strategic combination of fabrics, minimal seams and no closures to reduce the varying amounts of air resistance Hodgkinson encounters as she loops around the track. Total freedom of motion is supported by technical features like an articulated back knee that allows the fabric to lie smoothly, even in peak flexion; a patented 4D mobility gusset; and large openings at the underarm and back, which also support thermoregulation. The final product is a couture-level perfect fit — like a second skin but faster — that was entirely handcrafted by Nike teammates, primarily within the LeBron James Innovation Center at the Philip H. Knight Campus.

The speed suit also features Nike’s fastest vortex generators of all time: color-shifting, 3D-printed aerodynamic devices designed to reduce drag where it matters most, helping Hodgkinson run even faster. Ranging in size and orientation, these delta-shaped devices are computationally tuned for each part of Hodgkinson’s body. They work by creating mini tornadoes, or vortices, that force fast-moving air around the body to mix with and attach to slow-moving air trapped against it. This cuts down on the low-pressure wake that normally forms at the back of the body, reducing the amount of drag on the athlete and supporting greater speed.

Hodgkinson’s striking black suit was designed with attention to the smallest personal details, like a ponytail opening and Nike Vision Airelon Force E sunglasses. These design considerations anchor Hodgkinson in her sense of self and empower her to lock in and pursue her dreams.

“As much as we’re designing for peak performance, we’re also designing for pinnacle expression,” says Dan Farron, VP, Innovation Apparel Product Design. “Keely’s an athlete who’s unafraid to take risks; she’s bold and vivacious. This speed suit is a reflection of who she is. It’s sport and style in equal measure.”

Nike Victory Elite Spikes

The speed suit isn’t the only tool to help Hodgkinson lock in. The Victory 2, Nike’s lauded middle-distance spike, has long been Hodgkinson’s favorite performer for the 800-meter. Nike designers worked closely with athletes like Hodgkinson to create a spike that felt similar to the Victory but expanded upon its best qualities, like increasing energy return through the Zoom Air experience, reducing weight, and improving comfort and traction. The result is the Nike Victory Elite, the next step in the Victory franchise.

Similar to the Victory 2, the Victory Elite is powered by a comprehensive system. The top plate is full-length and made of carbon fiber. Different from the Victory 2 is the taller, tuned forefoot Air Zoom unit, a lighter carbon outsole plate fitted with titanium pins and an upper made of lightweight yarns. The Victory Elite has six pins on the outsole plate. To help shed weight, all of the traction comes from the spikes themselves, eschewing the other supplemental traction elements typical to a standard spike plate.

Aesthetically, the spike matches the same color treatment as Hodgkinson’s speed suit and signature collection with a striking black base. Highlights of gold across the upper and on the spike plate reflect her fierce competitive drive.

Go behind the design of Hodgkinson’s one-of-one Nike speed suit on The Record, and learn about her first signature Nike Running collection for all athletes in the NIKE, Inc. Newsroom.