Nike reveals new USA Olympic track & field team uniforms...

David Oliver

BEAVERTON--Nike revealed the look and design of the 2012 US Olympic track and field team uniforms in a press release Thursday.

The uniform collection is part of Nike's Pro TurboSpeed collection, which the company touts as its swiftest track apparel to date, but its most sustainable.

Nike Global Olympic Creative Director Martin Lotti comments, “our overriding design principle is superior lightweight performance, and we’ve come up with innovations that can help make the athlete faster. For the UST&F team, we’ve added modern graphics and bold colors that reflect US national identity. Combined with the fact that every piece of apparel made from recycled plastic bottles and it adds up to true innovation.”

Using revolutionary Nike AeroSwift technology, patterns and surface architectures informed directly by wind tunnel data are strategically placed on key areas of the athlete’s form. The result offers the greatest aerodynamic drag reduction of any NIKE uniform to date.

In the design of many of the garments, the company has placed elastics and edge finishes on the outside of the garment and incorporating an innovative flat, smooth waistband, bulkiness and abrasions are virtually eliminated.

Allyson Felix

Reflecting the NIKE commitment to considered design, Nike Pro TurboSpeed merges sustainability and performance. On average, Nike Pro TurboSpeed uniforms use 82% recycled polyester fabric. Specific products have been developed for distance, sprint, and field events while strategic color blocking is used to visually capture movement.

For women, NIKE has developed a new approach to modular support, creating specific solutions for the distance, sprint, and field athlete, each offering a different degree of support and adjustability, and integrating Dri-FIT moisture management and premium quality detailing throughout.

Medal stand outfit

Nike also revealed three distinct medal stand outfits for the US Olympic team.

“The medal stand is a pinnacle moment for these athletes,” said Lotti. “The world is watching and we want to make sure the athlete looks and feels good in celebration of their achievement.”

Track and field athletes will wear to the podium the 21st C. Windrunner jacket, which is detailed with a trademark V-shaped chevron across the chest, dotted with ventilation perforations across the back and finished off with a hyper reflective shell that burns bright under the most subtle lights. Serving function and aesthetic, The “United States of America” is applied with precision laser technology, while the lower back is detailed with 50 perforations — one for each state. A badge on the inside of the jacket, placed over the heart reads “Team USA.”

Athletes will also wear the new Flyknit Trainer running shoe on the podium, and the Bowerman Tech Pant.

NOTE: NIKE media relations contributed to this report.  All images courtesy Nike.