The birth of “the running company –Nike”
In 1957, Nike’s future co-founders Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight met in the University of Oregon. Knight was a middle-distance runner on the track and field team under head coach Bowerman, who later became head coach of an US Olympic team. The development of their relationship changed the world of sports forever.
Blue Ribbon Sports, as Nike was formerly known, began promoting its first line of Nike shoes during the 1972 US Olympic Trials. In particular, the introduction of the Moon series immediately attracted the attention of runners for its waffle sole design that enhanced cushioning. Ever since then, Nike rooted as a running company and has made a continued presence at US marathon, track and field events both big and small.
In 1973, US record-holder Steve Prefontaine was the first professional athlete to wear Nike running shoes. Many other running athletes soon followed and created a phenomenon that extended beyond track and field. As the entire athletic world began to take notice, athletes such as Olympic marathon gold medalist Jon Anderson and tennis player Ilie Nastase also competed in Nike athletic shoes.
Step by step, Nike has eventually reached out to everyone in the world. For the past 38 years, Nike has not only persisted in providing athletes the best and most competitive products, but upheld its core values as a running compan
