After attending Nike’s Olympics preview in Paris, Boardroom breaks down everything you need to know about the latest from The Swoosh heading into the Games.
In 1977, an aerospace engineer named Frank Rudy first introduced Nike co-founder Phil Knight to the idea of incorporating air into sneakers. The concept involved placing tiny airbags in the soles of shoes to soften the impact on the foot. Prior to Rudy showing this innovation to Knight, 23 other companies rejected him, all claiming the design was ineffective.
Thankfully, Knight took a chance on Rudy because decades later, The Swoosh continues to be one of the most advanced brands in global footwear. In the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, it has introduced one of the most ingenious iterations of the technology yet.
The first sneaker to incorporate Air cushioning was the 1978 Nike Tailwind trainer. Nowadays, the feature is found in just about every Nike shoe.
During an Olympics preview event in Paris, members of Nike’s design team introduced various ways consumers will find Air technology in the footwear athletes will be wearing during the Summer Games. From basketball to track and field to its marathon participants, the groundbreaking use of Air design and style has been reinvented for the 2024 Olympics and beyond.
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The first novelty shown was Nike’s comprehensive Blueprint Pack, essentially the best of the brand’s Air iterations. The 13-product capsule honors the Oregon-based company’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman, and his penchant for empowering athletes to always perform at their best. Included were:
- Nike Victory 2 and Nike Maxfly 2 (modified spikes for track and field athletes)
- Nike GT Hustle 3 (a new basketball shoe)
- 2024 Nike Mercurial (its most premium boot for footballers to date)
With every new release, one thing that Nike takes very seriously is its feedback from athletes. After all, those are the ones eventually standing on the medal podium, hopefully adding to their collection or achieving championship glory for the first time.
Two of Nike’s design experts had just arrived in Paris on Tuesday from Ethiopia and Kenya, where they met with four-time Olympic medalist Eliud Kipchoge. Known to provide constant feedback and design advice scribbled on multiple pages, the two took guidance from the veteran marathoner to adjust the features of its super shoe, the Alphafly.
This is just one example of The Swoosh doing its due diligence when it comes to maximizing its products. But one thing stays the same with every new shoe: Air technology, while evolving, remains a key component and could ultimately be the difference-maker in Kipchoge’s quest to bring home more hardware in the City of Lights.
New & Improved Pegasus Line
Speaking of running shoes, Nike also unveiled two slick new kicks — the 41st version of the Pegasus sneaker and the Pegasus Premium.
Designed to curve the foot’s natural profile, the unique Air Zoom unit in the Nike Pegasus Premium promises “a springy, smooth sensation never felt in an Air Zoom unit before.” Furthermore, the midsole features ZoomX foam while the heel boasts ReactX foam, contributing to a smooth ride mile after mile.
One can also find ReactX foam in the new Pegasus 41, as it supplies over 13% more energy return compared to React foam, Nike says. The company also claims that using ReactX over React lowers the carbon footprint in a pair of midsoles by at least 43%. Combine all of that with the shoe’s Air Zoom unit, and runners can expect a responsive, cushioned ride mile after mile on those long runs.
As far as release dates go, the Nike Blueprint Pack will be available on its website and in select retailers on July 3. Expect the Pegasus 41 to drop in June, while the elevated Pegasus Premium likely won’t hit shelves until Spring 2025.
This drop ahead of the Olympics is Nike’s latest move to try and stay ahead of its competitors. After 50-plus years in the business, you’d think it would have reached its peak when it comes to modernization. But with these latest products and more on the way, it only feels like The Swoosh is entering a new era of advancement.
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