At Nike, the process of design is rooted in collaboration with athletes, who inspire a diverse dialogue — including anecdotes, data points, worn-out shoes and video footage — that motivates innovative solutions to complex sporting problems. The brand’s designers, like the athletes, seek to envision a better future. That means taking risks, pushing boundaries and reminding that, in quest of the perfect race, there is no finish line.
No competitive arena is more indicative of this spirit than track and field. Nike’s own design evolution began with runners in the late '60s. Today, the company archive is filled with footwear that routinely shattered convention and spurred new ways of thinking about how design can propel athletic potential — anywhere from 100 meters to 10,000 meters.
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Handmade Shoe by Bill Bowerman (1966)
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Pre Montreal from the Blue Ribbons Collection (1973)
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Nike Canada Quick 4 (1972)
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Track Spike Handmade by Bill Bowerman
and Worn by Steve Prefontaine (1973) -
Nike Americas Worn by Steve Prefontaine (1974)
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Nike Triumph (1978)
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Nike Vainqueur (1978)
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Nike Track Spike (1979)
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1500M Nike Track Spike (1980)
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800M Nike Track Spike (1980)
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Nike Zoom D (1982)
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Nike Zoom S (1982)
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Nike Zoom S II (1985)
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Nike Zoom Light (1988)
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Nike Zoom Ultra (1988)
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Nike Zoom Ultra II (1990)
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Nike Zoom D for Team USA (1992)
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Nike Zoom S (1992)
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Nike Zoom S Nike International (1993)
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Gold Spike for Michael Johnson (1996)
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Nike Zoom Eldoret (1996)
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Nike Zoom Super Fly (1996)
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Nike Zoom Jasari (1998)
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Nike Zoom Super Fly II (1998)
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Nike Zoom Kennedy (1999)
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Gold Spike Autographed by Michael Johnson (2000)
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Nike Zoom Super Fly (2000)
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Nike Zoom Ventulus (2000)
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Nike Zoom W (2001)
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Nike Air Zoom Miler (2004)
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Nike PV Lite (2004)
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Nike Zoom Maxcat (2004)
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Nike Zoom Monster Fly (2005)
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Nike Zoom Matumbo (2008)
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Nike Zoom Victory (2008)
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Nike Zoom Mamba (2009)
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Nike Superfly R3 (2012)
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Nike Zoom Ja Fly (2012)
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Nike Zoom Matumbo 2 (2012)
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Nike Zoom Superfly R2 (2012)
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Nike Zoom Superfly R4 (2012)
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Nike Zoom Victory Elite (2012)
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Nike Flyknit Spike (2012)
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Nike Zoom Superfly Flyknit (2016)
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Nike Zoom Superfly Elite (2016)
Historical information and imagery courtesy of Nike archives.
Read More: Just Do It 2016 Nike History Nike Running