Nike has slowly unveiled their Olympic gear over the last couple of months. With Rio 2016 less than 40 days away they released some of their newest innovations just in the last week. The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team as well as USA track and field athletes will wear some of the latest tech-infused gear Nike has to offer.
The USWNT will wear a brand new kit when they begin their quest for their fourth straight Olympic gold medal. In order conform to the Olympic uniform regulations the brand new U.S. Soccer Federation crest will be replaced by simple USA lettering. The new breathable kits are made from high-performance yarn that has become a staple of Nike’s AeroSwift technology. Vertical stripes that begin under the armpits through the shorts, will expand while in motion to help improve ventilation.
The reigning @FIFAWWC champions will wear a new @Nike home kit at the @Olympics: https://t.co/IvHRfx07KX pic.twitter.com/2PpvtMGGkD
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) June 28, 2016
Members of the USWNT will choose from an array of lighter cleats that also allow for more control of the ball. The Women’s Spark Brilliance Pack lets each player choose any of Nike’s new cleats. The lightweight cleats help wick away mud and grass.
We covered Nike’s newest track and field innovations when they were first teased in March. They officially introduced their three newest tech-based uniform advancements a couple of days ago.
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Any track and field athlete, even if they are not sponsored by Nike will be able to gain a competitive advantage by wearing their new AeroBlade tech. The tech is designed to help reduce wind resistance. Athletes will attach the tiny 3-D printed silicon-based spikes using adhesive tape to their arms or legs, which will help prevent drag.
Additionally, track and field athletes often wear sunglasses for outdoor events. Nike introduced their most aerodynamic and lightweight performance glasses for Rio. Their new Wing line features a single piece of glass void of hinges. This helps prevent wind resistance. The new sunglasses only let red light through and weigh four grams less than previous Nike performance glasses.
Nike may have also just gotten rid of paper clipped race bibs that flap around in the wind, for good. Their new AeroSwift Bibs are stuck directly to a wearer’s uniform using adhesive. The breathable bibs can withstand even the most extreme conditions without falling off. The International Olympic Committee approved all three products for competition in Rio.
Nike runners will wear this tape with silicon blades on it for the Olympics to cut aerodynamic drag pic.twitter.com/36zOFdwamZ
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 29, 2016
Nike also released their Team USA medal-stand uniforms. NikeLabs designed the USA Dynamic Reveal apparel that will be worn every time a U.S. Olympian takes the podium in Rio. The global sportswear power has been the official partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee since 2005, and that will continue through at least Tokyo 2020.
Nike unveiled their Olympic basketball uniforms a few months ago. They recently helped officially announce the USA Men’s National Team roster who will be wearing their new lighter and more breathable jerseys.
All of these new innovative releases could help buck a trend of underperformance from Nike’s stock before huge sporting events.
The sportswear giant’s stock prices have fallen before every major international sporting event since 2008. They just released their promising fourth quarter and full year earnings report on June 28th .
With all of their new gear and tech-based advancements ahead of Rio 2016 Nike is hoping they have done enough to spark greater consumer interest. Even if the small dip in stock price continues this August, expect Nike’s newest innovations to pay off in the long run.