BOWERMAN: training without straining
In the 1960s, American coach Bill BOWERMAN decided to "import jogging" from Arthur LYDIARD to Oregon. It met with immediate success.
In the months that followed the New Zealand athletes' achievements at the Olympic Games Rome 1960, Bill Bowerman, the University of Oregon track and field team coach, decided to visit Arthur LYDIARD in Auckland. He discovered that Lydiard, far from only working with elite athletes, also had hundreds of people from all walks of life running every week.
Bill Bowerman, regardant cinq coureurs de distance entrer dans un virage sur la piste d'entraînement près de Hayward Field en 1959. De gauche à droite : Mark ROBBINS (visage bloqué par BOWERMAN), Phil KNIGHT, Wilcey WINCHELL, Dick MILLER et un athlète non identifié. (1959) by Université de l'OregonThe Olympic Museum
Bill BOWERMAN
Bill BOWERMAN, born in 1911, dedicated 24 years to coaching University of Oregon students and mentoring over 30 Olympic athletes, including 12 American record holders. He was the head coach of the United States team at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972.
Bill Bowerman, conduisant un groupe de joggeurs sur une colline près de sa maison à l'extérieur de Springfield en 1964. Les deux femmes à l'arrière du groupe sont Barbara Bowerman (à gauche) et Robin Jaqua (1964) by Université de l'OregonThe Olympic Museum
Jogging for everyone
In 1962, impressed by Arthur LYDIARD's training methods, once back at home BOWERMAN organised jogging sessions for anyone wanting to stay fit, from housewives to the elderly. The jogging revolution was well and truly underway!
"Jogging" by Bill BOWERMAN
BOWERMAN and HARRIS co-wrote the book Jogging in 1967. The book sold over a million copies and contributed to popularising running in the United States. Arthur LYDIARD's famous slogans featured in the book, including the famous " Train, don't strain! "
Phil KNIGHT et Bill BOWERMAN dans un magazine japonais. BOWERMAN porte un survêtement des États-Unis. Les deux hommes portent des Nike. (1971) by Université de l'OregonThe Olympic Museum
Founding of Nike in reference to the Greek goddess
In 1964 Bill BOWERMAN, along with one of his students, Phil KNIGHT, founded the company " Blue Ribbon Sports ", initially selling Japanese running shoes. Creative and entrepreneurial, they renamed the company Nike in 1971 and produced their first model : the Cortez.
Prototype de chaussures Nike Waffle Racing Flats "Moon Shoes", exposées lors de l'avant-première de presse de la collection olympique chez Sotheby's le 21 juillet 2021 à New York. (2021) by Getty ImagesThe Olympic Museum
From the waffle maker to the revolutionary shoe
Inspired by his wife's waffle maker, in 1971 BOWERMAN had the idea of creating a shoe with a softer waffle-patterned rubber sole for enhanced cushioning and grip. Three years later, in 1974, the first model was released under the name Nike Waffle Racer.
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