Pre Montreal from Nike

Et par Nike-løbesko med blå mesh-overdel, fremtrædende hvide swooshes, røde detaljer nær hælen, cremefarvede såler og hvide snørebånd. Den ene sko hviler oven på den anden og viser detaljer på siden og sålen.

Vaporfly 4 - Pre Montreal

A tribute to Steve Prefontaine

En mandlig løber med overskæg og langt hår, iført en Oregon-tanktop og shorts, løber indendørs på en bane med tilskuere siddende i baggrunden.

A raw talent from Oregon

Few names resonate as much in the running world as Steve Prefontaine. Although his career was tragically cut short, he left a mark that still inspires runners today.

Steve Prefontaine grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon and quickly became known as a raw talent on the track. Under coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon, he developed his uncompromising style, always setting the pace from the front. He became an icon for an entire generation because he ran with his heart first – for him it wasn’t about saving energy, but about pushing himself and everyone else to the limit.

When we shared the field with Steve Prefontaine

It is not only from a distance that we at Marathon Sport feel the connection to Steve Prefontaine. Gert Kærling, who has been a part of Marathon Sport for many years, himself stood on the starting line at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the 5000 meters – the same race where Prefontaine made history with his uncompromising style.

Having had a colleague who has shared the track with one of running's greatest icons gives the legacy of "Pre" a very special closeness and authenticity for us.

En gruppe mandlige atleter løber på en bane, anført af en løber i USA-uniform med nummeret 1005, under et konkurrenceløb på et overfyldt stadion.

Records and Olympic dreams

Steve Prefontaine died in a car accident in May 1975, just a year before the 1976 Olympics, where he had ambitions of winning a medal in the 5,000 meters. For the Montreal Olympics, Nike and Bowerman were ready with a new model, the Nike Pre Montreal, developed specifically for him. It became the first Nike shoe to bear an athlete's name – but tragically, he never got to run in it himself.

That's why the Vaporfly 4 “Pre Montreal” has a special symbolism: it ties together today's most advanced racing shoe with the legacy of both a legend and the shoe that marked the beginning of Nike's journey as a running brand on the Olympic stage.

Cloudboom Strike (coming soon)

The ultimate running shoe designed for speed and comfort. Featuring an innovative bounce board that propels you forward, ultra-responsive Helion HF hyper foam for exceptional energy return, and strategically placed CloudTech elements for a smoother stride, this shoe ensures maximum performance. The breathable, one-piece mesh upper reduces overheating, while the spoon-shaped carbon fiber speedboard absorbs and transfers energy for powerful takeoffs. A removable layer of soft cushioning maximizes comfort and energy return, all within the stack height regulations.

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The legacy lives on in the Nike Vaporfly 4

Steve Prefontaine’s collaboration with Bowerman helped shape some of Nike’s first running shoes, including the iconic Pre Montreal . In 2025, Nike will mark the 50th anniversary of his death with the launch of the Vaporfly 4 “Pre Montreal” – a modern race shoe in red, white and blue that pays tribute to the legacy of one of the sport’s greatest figures and brings his spirit to modern running.