Steve Prefontaine was a 5'9", 139 pound runner who embodied Nike's competitive spirit through his relentless training and racing style of pushing himself and his competitors to their limits. While most think of famous athletes like Michael Jordan when they think of Nike, the company's employees think of Prefontaine, whose spirit of competing as if each race was a matter of life and death is the cornerstone of Nike's soul. Prefontaine's legendary pursuit of athletic excellence and competitive drive continue to inspire Nike.

1. Greatness
loves the
relentless

2. When most people
think of Nike, they tend
to think of superstar
athletes like Michael
Jordan, Mia Hamm or
LeBron James.

3. Yet, when Nike’s own
employees think of their
company, they think of a
scrappy 5’9″…139 pound
mustache wearing
runner named Steve
Prefontaine

4. His spirit was and still is
the cornerstone of the
company’s soul…

5. His spirit was and still is
the cornerstone of the
company’s soul…

6. as he competed as if
every race was a life or
death experience and
was fond of saying that,
“somebody may beat
me, but they are going
to have to bleed to do
it.”

7. His philosophy and style was
to run without limits…to see
who was the hungriest, to
determine who had the
most guts…to challenge and
punish his competitors
will.it.”

8. His pursuit of athletic
excellence is
legendary as was his
relentless
competitive spirit.

9. Greatness
loves the
relentless
!