Nike

Nike is named after the Greek goddess of triumph, and this North American firm is one of the largest and most well-known running shoe brands in the world, partially due to its well-known motto, "Just do it." So it's not surprising that, since the groundbreaking Waffle Trainer in 1973 and the Air Max in 1987, Nike has continued to produce shoes worn by the world's fastest runners, including Britain's Mo Farah, who won Olympic gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m in 2012 and 2016, and Paula Radcliffe, who held the women's marathon world record from 2002 to 2016. Since 2014, Nike has also served as the official clothing supplier for British Athletics.

For runners, the brand is presently focused on the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next shoe, a collaboration with world record marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge, who ran the only sub-two-hour marathon under carefully controlled and regulated conditions utilizing a team of pacers in 2019. He donned a pair of prototypes that made him 4% more energy efficient thanks to their winning blend of carbon fiber and foam, as well as air pods under the shoe sole for greater energy return per step. Nike's notable models are the Nike Air Force 1 basketball sneakers and the Nike Air Max, Flyknit, and Pegasus running trainers.

Founded: 1964

Headquarters: Beaverton, Oregon, U.S.

Official website: https://www.nike.com/