The historic battle between Nike and Adidas: From the football fields to the athletics track

The rivalry between Nike and Adidas is probably one of the most epic in the history of sport and fashion. A fight to lead the market that has transcended generations, disciplines and continents. From their beginnings, adidas with a focus on football and Nike on running, to this day, both have strengthened in search of the best product. In pursuit of supremacy in the global sports market. And it's not just about competition for sales or sponsorships; it's a fight for innovation, technology and, ultimately, philosophy about how sport should be lived and experienced.

Both brands have left a mark and a legacy in sports and popular culture, but in recent years, this rivalry has intensified to levels never seen before. With each new trainer launched, each record broken and each athlete sponsored, Nike and Adidas not only seek to surpass their rival, but also to redefine the limits of what is possible in the world of sport. In just 2 weeks, Adidas athlete Tigist Assefa with the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 and Kelvin Kiptum from Nike with the Alphafly 3 have broken the world marathon record in both the female and male categories.

Indeed, we are at a time when technology is rapidly redefining how we interact with sport and how athletes reach new milestones. And in this context, the rivalry between Nike and Adidas has become more than a fight for the market; it's a race for the future of sport itself. And with events like the world marathon records or the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this rivalry is far from having reached its peak.

So, how did it all start? How has this battle evolved over decades? And most importantly, how do we, the recreational runners, benefit? At RUNNEA, we delve into the history, the present and the future of one of the most exciting and significant rivalries in the world of sport.

Dominating the world of sport through elite athletes

The rivalry between Nike and Adidas is not something new; in fact, it goes back several decades, and one of the most notable battlefields has been football. Adidas, founded in Germany in 1949, had an initial advantage in this sport, being the leading brand in European football for many years. Its football boots and balls became synonymous with quality and performance. Adidas secured sponsorship contracts with some of the world's largest clubs and national teams, including Bayern Munich and the German national team.

Nike, on the other hand, was born with a focus on athletics. Founded in 1964 in the United States, the brand later turned its interest to basketball. It wasn't until the 90s that Nike decided to fully enter the world of football. And when it did, it was with an aggressive strategy that included signing sponsorship contracts with high-profile athletes like Ronaldo Nazário and clubs like FC Barcelona.

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Nike's entry into football changed the rules of the game. Suddenly, Adidas no longer had a monopoly on this sport. Nike introduced design and technology innovations that challenged everything that had been seen up to that point, such as the Mercurial series, which promised unprecedented lightness and agility. Adidas responded with its own innovations, such as the Predator series, which focused on greater ball control.

Both brands also faced off in the marketing battle, with advertising campaigns that became iconic. Who could forget the Nike "Good vs Evil" advert or the Adidas "Impossible is Nothing" campaign? It wasn't just about selling products, but also pursuing a vision, a philosophy, and ultimately, an identity with the brand.

But the rivalry in football was just the beginning. As the new millennium progressed, both giants realised that the next big battlefield would be athletics, and more specifically, the running shoes for the recreational runner. And so, what we experienced in football stadiums moved to athletics tracks and city streets, where a new dispute for supremacy was about to begin.

The epicentre: Running shoes

With the rise of recreational running over the last 20 years, both companies have heavily invested in research and development, seeking to create the fastest, most comfortable and most innovative running shoe on the market.

Nike, with its Breaking2 project, attempted to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon. Although they didn't achieve it, the project led to the creation of the Nike Vaporfly and Nike Alphafly shoes that revolutionised and highlighted the importance of footwear in the world of running. These shoes incorporate a carbon fibre plate in the sole that improves running efficiency, allowing athletes to run faster for longer. The impact was such that it sparked a debate about whether they should be banned in official competitions. A debate that is still open today.

Adidas, which reacted late, launched the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro. The German brand also introduced innovative technologies, such as its Lightstrike Pro cushioning system and Energy Rods carbon fibre plates that differentiated from its competition by being formed by a series of rods located under each phalanx of the foot. The result we have experienced with the women's marathon world record, set by Tigist Assefa in Berlin, wearing a revolutionary model of only 138 grams and 500?, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. The shoe caught the attention of the entire sector, and the image of Assefa kissing it at the finish line in Berlin has gone down in history.

Nike's response was not long in coming. Just two weeks later, Kiptum would snatch the world marathon record from Eliud Kipchoge at the Chicago marathon. His shoes, the Nike Alphafly 3 that will go on sale in 2024. The difference with Adidas, is that the shoe has gone largely unnoticed and Nike has not been able to take advantage of this milestone as Adidas has.

This back and forth of records has added a new dimension to the rivalry between Nike and Adidas. It's no longer just about who sells more shoes or who has the best marketing campaign. Now, the fight is centred on who can lead athletes to break the barriers of human performance, and ultimately, who can claim the title of the world's fastest shoe.

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And it's not just the elite of running that this battle is limited to. Both brands have extended their innovations to models for the recreational runner, creating a wide range of shoes that adapt to different needs and running styles. From models for daily training to specific shoes for short and fast races, Nike and Adidas offer options for all types of runners.

The rivalry has also moved into the realm of marketing and advertising. While Nike has centred its campaigns on the idea of pushing the limits of what's possible, Adidas has opted for an approach more focused on community and sustainability, as reflected in its "Run for the Oceans" initiative.

The big stage: Paris 2024 Olympic Games

If there's an event that can serve as the big stage for this rivalry between Nike and Adidas, it will undoubtedly be the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This global sporting event not only attracts the attention of millions of viewers worldwide, but also represents the pinnacle of athletic performance. For sports brands, the Olympic Games are the golden opportunity to demonstrate the superiority of their technology and design, and in the case of Nike and Adidas, to decide which is the fastest shoe on the planet.

Both brands are already working full steam ahead in preparing their athletes and optimising their technologies. Rumour has it that Adidas could be developing an even more advanced version of the Adizero Adios Pro Evo1, while Nike has historically taken advantage of Olympic years to launch innovative models. It has already leaked that the Nike Alphafly 3 will be released, but we're convinced that it won't stop there and specialised forums are talking about Nike working on a new model that will exceed all expectations.

Will it be on the streets of Paris where it's finally decided which brand has supremacy in the world of running? Will Adidas be able to consolidate its return to stardom with an Olympic victory, or will it be Nike who reaffirms its position as the undisputed giant of sport?

What is certain is that the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will once again be much more than the most important event in world sport. They will be the stage for a battle that goes back years, a confrontation of technology, tactics and human spirit that promises to bring us recreational athletes much joy.

So at RUNNEA we already have this 2024 marked on our calendars and we are preparing for a show that promises to be historic. Because when it comes to Nike and Adidas, the only certainty is that we're going to have a great time.