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Powell did alot of shoots with established superstar sportsmen while he was still a Nike Athlete, and even had to sprint in football boots in one of the videos.
Jamaican sprint legend Asafa Powell has fondly reflected on his Nike shoot encounters with established superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kobe Bryant, and others during his running days.
Powell, who previously held two world records in the 100m, was a Nike athlete, and his impressive track record made him a highly marketable figure.
In Nike’s efforts to raise the profile and sellability of track and field, they turned to Powell for shoots with some of the most renowned sports figures, including Ronaldo and the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
Speaking on the Ready-Set-Go podcast, Powell reminisced about some of these shoots, notably one in 2007 where he marketed the new Mercurial football boot—the first-ever concept boot created—which required him to sprint in the boots.
“I had a Nike shoot with Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba for that new Nike Mercurial boot that was coming out. I was supposed to test this shoe, run in it, and then deliver it to both," Powell recalled.
"It was freezing so much and I had to run hard in tights. I had to really run 100 meters, but redo it a few times. It was crazy."
Powell described the challenging conditions during the shoot. “I would put on my Eskimo clothes but take them out before racing again, but for the shoot, I had to be in a bodysuit and football boots. That for me was crazy. The cold was ridiculous, but I loved the concept.”
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21:27 - 13.07.2024
Asafa Powell reveals how his relationship with Usain Bolt helped make team Jamaica unbeatable
Powell has explained how his friendship with Usain Bolt made team Jamaica unbeatable for nearly a decade.
Nike’s desire to tap into the Caribbean market, particularly Jamaica, was a driving force behind involving Powell in these high-profile shoots.
“They were trying to push track and field. Jamaica does not have the biggest market when it comes to track and all this stuff. They were really pushing for us and for me to get out there. Ronaldo, Drogba, Kobe Bryant. I was doing shoots with all of these guys,” Powell explained.
Despite his numerous shoots with sports legends, Powell never had the chance to shoot commercials with LeBron James.
When asked if he used the giveaways from the shoots, Powell revealed why he has never opened some of those boxes. “I have never opened them. If I opened the boxes, those shoes will probably stick in my hands.”
Powell also discussed his transition from Nike to the Chinese brand Li Ning, highlighting the reasons behind the switch.
“I had to do everything. It was fun. I enjoyed it. It was a little bit more (the money) which is why I made the switch. They were trying to make sure that my shoe and gear were as comfortable as possible for me. The reception was great, I got to learn a few things,” he said.
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18:00 - 12.07.2024
'That is the only record I regret' - Asafa Powell on the 100m race he set a World Record in accidentally
Powell set a then100m World Record of 9.74 in 2007 despite intentionally slowing down towards the end of the race.
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