Nike, the sportswear giant founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, has become a global brand with a loyal following of athletes and fans around the world. Known for its iconic swoosh logo and innovative products, Nike has become a symbol of athleticism and style. But there’s much more to Nike than just its trendy sneakers and apparel. So, let’s take a closer look at 20 Nike facts that will give you a deeper appreciation for this iconic company.
1-5 Fun Facts About Nike
1. Back in 1964, the sports company now known as Blue Ribbon Sports.
2. Many hardcore fans of the brand mispronounce the name ‘Nike’. It is correctly pronounced ‘ny-kee’ and the name comes from the Greek goddess of victory. For the record, it’s “ny-kee” – say it with me now!
3. By 1980, Nike had completely dominated the shoe game, capturing a staggering 50% of the entire US market.
4. With a workforce of over 77,000 people spread out across the globe, Nike is a major player in the world of sports and fashion.
5. When Nike commissioned filmmaker Casey Neistat to create a commercial around the theme of “Make it Count,” they probably weren’t expecting him to take the budget and run with it – quite literally. Neistat and a friend embarked on a spontaneous adventure, filming themselves running at various destinations along the way. The end result impressed Nike, despite not following the original plan.
6-10 Shocking Facts About Nike
6. Believe it or not, the first video to ever hit a million views on YouTube wasn’t some viral cat video – it was a Nike commercial featuring legendary footballer Ronaldinho.
7. In 1998, Nike found itself in a bit of a sticky situation when it was discovered that the “Air” logo on one of their shoes looked suspiciously like the word “Allah.” In a move that spoke to its commitment to inclusivity, Nike recalled 38,000 pairs of shoes and donated them to Muslim communities. Crisis averted!
8. Following the massive success of The Hangover, Nike approached the hilarious Zach Galifianakis to be part of their advertising campaign. During a conference call, Zach couldn’t resist breaking the ice with a joke, quipping, “So, do you guys still have 7-year-olds making your stuff?”
9. Nike is committed to sustainability and accepts donations of old sneakers to recycle the materials into synthetic turf sports fields, running tracks, and playground surfacing tiles. Talk about putting worn-out shoes to good use!
10. Nike’s iconic motto of “Just Do It” (JDI) actually has a grim origin. The tagline can be traced back to the last words of condemned murderer Gary Gilmore, who famously uttered “Let’s do it” before his execution by firing squad in 1977. He was the first criminal to be executed in the USA after the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
11-15 Interesting Facts About Nike
11. Nike’s famous Swoosh logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson, one of Phil Knight’s students from when he taught at Portland State University. She created the logo for just $35, and it’s been an integral part of the brand’s identity since its adoption in 1971.
12. To show their appreciation, Nike later awarded Carolyn with more than $640,000 worth of their products.
Read more: 20 Mind-Blowing Shoes Facts That Will Knock Your Socks Off
13. Nike has truly taken the world by storm, selling footwear, clothing, and sports accessories in thousands of stores worldwide. Every single year, the brand sells an astounding 900 million items, a testament to its massive global reach and impact.
14. Nike rakes in a mind-boggling $50 billion annually, making it one of the biggest players in the sports industry.
15. With a jaw-dropping value of over $150 billion, Nike is the crème de la crème of sports companies worldwide.
16-20 Surprising Facts About Nike
16. Basketball icon LeBron James once said no to a $10 million offer from Reebok, hoping for better deals from the likes of Nike and Adidas. Sure enough, he soon inked a sweet $90 million contract with Nike.
17. Did you know that Michael Jordan’s iconic “Jumpman” logo isn’t actually based on him dunking a basketball? It’s actually a silhouette of MJ performing a ballet move! That’s right. The image comes from a photograph of Jordan executing a graceful leap, not a high-flying slam dunk.
Read More: 30 Incredible Michael Jordan Facts That Will Blow Your Mind
18. Did you know that Nike originally wanted to call their first shoe design “Aztec”? However, Adidas already had a line called “Aztec Gold,” so they threatened to sue. Nike’s founders then had to think on their feet and came up with the name “Cortez” instead, after the general who famously kicked the sh*t out of the Aztecs.
19. In the ’80s, Nike released a commercial featuring a Kenyan tribesman whose words were translated as “Just Do It.” But as it turns out, the man was actually saying, “I don’t want these. Give me big shoes.” When an American anthropologist alerted Nike to this fact, they responded by saying, “We thought nobody in America would know what he said.” Oops!
20. Nike runs a super-elite running group with cutting-edge equipment like underwater treadmills. Athletes in this program live in a specially designed house with oxygen filters that simulate high-altitude conditions, increasing their red blood cell count.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 20 Fun and Weird Facts About Nike.
Have A Great Day :>
