Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, global sportswear juggernaut Nike has dropped a range of shoes to be worn by a variety of athletes, both competing at the Games and watching along at home.
In total, the brand has released nine shoes: six runners, two basketball shoes and a pair of football boots. All of which will be worn by athletes at the highly-anticipated Paris Olympics. As is always the case with Nike, the shoes’ colour ways are uniquely vibrant and the technology implemented in their design is innovative, ensuring they can be worn both on the track and at the cafe.
According to a media release, the shoes reflect the brand’s ‘core focus which is to constantly innovate to serve and support all athletes, using the latest research, insights from [Nike’s] world-class roster of athletes.’
With running taking Australian society by storm at the beginning of 2024, to the point everyone and their dog is in a weekly run club, the brand believes their six running shoe offerings will take the community by storm by marrying comfort with performance.
Whether you’re competing for a world record in Paris, a personal best on your Sunday run, Olympic gold or community sports titles, Nike’s latest shoes will facilitate you in achieving your desired results. Here’s everything you need to know about each shoe in the brand’s latest drop.
Nike’s Paris Olympics shoe drop: Everything there is to know
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Nike Pegasus 41
Launching later this year, this model is the latest development of the widely popular Pegasus range. Constructed with responsive Zoom Air cushioning, the Pegasus 41s possess a soft cushiony underfoot presence perfect for runs of any distance.
Nike Pegasus Premium
Another new member to the Pegasus range, the Premium model boasts the first full-length contoured Air Zoom bag connecting the heel and forefoot, surrounded by ZoomX and ReactX foam to provide a soft, responsive ride.
Nike Victory 2
More cushioning, more stability and more speed, these middle-distance spikes are everything runners want and need in a shoe. A bonus is the Zoom Air and ZoomX technology incorporated into the shoe, as well as a full-length carbon plate.
Nike Air MaxFly 2
The American brand has labelled this their fastest sprint spike, with the latest model loaded with an updated base of the system, a light plate and a more contained upper.
Nike DragonFly 2 and DragonFly 2 Elite
The brand’s most dominant distance spike, designed for 5 and 10 kilometre races, this pair of shoes includes a full-length carbon plate with a new upper and plate material for a lighter feel.
Nike Peg Easy On
A similarly styled runner to the Pegasus, capable of being worn on track or at the cafe, the Easy Ons feature Nike’s velcro lacing system, ensuring athletes can seamlessly slip in and out of the footwear.
Nike GT Hustle
One of two basketball shoes Nike are releasing ahead of the Olympics, the GT Hustle is powered by a newly designed system of Nike Zoom Air and demonstrates the latest example of the brand’s basketball division delivering game-changing innovation.
Nike GT Cut 3
For the first time, Nike ZoomX Foam is in a basketball shoe. The GT Cut 3 features a lightweight upper reinforced by Flywire in order to contain the medial and lateral forefoot. On the outer sole, designers created modified herringbone pods for traction where players need it most.
Nike Mercurial Superfly Elite
Mercurials are some of the finest football boots ever produced. This latest innovation is designed to ensure footballers remain responsive and light on their feet, crucial to a fast-paced sport. In a nice touch, around 85% of the Mercurial’s new line are made with at least 20% recycled content by weight.
Who are Nike’s Olympic athletes?
The American brand has a host of Australian Olympians on their roster, including:
- Chloe Covell – Skateboarder
- Sinead Driver – Road runner
- Jarryd Clifford – Paralympian road runner
- Emma McKeon – Swimmer
- Ariarne Titmus – Swimmer – Australia’s most decorated Olympian ever
- Jess Hull – Track and field athlete
- Cameron Myers – Track and field athlete
Of course, Australians aren’t the only athletes sponsored by the brand. It’s likely the brand’s infamous Swoosh logo will be donned by a range of Olympic competitors across all sports later this year, notably basketball and running.
When are the Paris Olympics?
Kicking off on 26 July 2024, the games run all the way through to 11 August and see the best of the best across a range of sports competing for the ultimate glory: Olympic Gold. All in all, 10,500 athletes will descend on the French capital for the tournament, which marks the 29th Summer Olympics.
2024 will be the third time Paris has hosted the Olympics following the 1900 Games, the second instalment of the modern Olympics competition, and 1924, meaning this year’s tournament occurs exactly a century after the Games last came to town.
