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Explore the original icon; Nike Cortez at JD Sports.

Designed by Bill Bowerman and debuting at the 1972 München Olympics, the Nike Cortez shook the world of athletics upon its release. The trainers changed how designers considered running shoes and emphasized a new era of comfort for the athletes wearing them.

Born in Oregon in 1911, Bill Bowerman is best known as a legendary Olympic running coach and co-founder of Nike.

Bowerman was fascinated by the design of running shoes, giving himself the task of developing new trainers at Nike. As a coach, he wanted to design shoes to benefit his runners. He envisaged his shoes helping athletes become more comfortable on the track, boosting their performance, and helping his runners reach new heights.

He did this by replacing the flimsy designs of previous running shoes and adding additional support and cushioning around the ankles. Thanks to their extra cushioning and updated midsole, the Nike Cortez quickly became the industry standard, helping establish Nike, then-unknown, as a new force in athletic apparel and design.

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