Sneaker Freaker is just one of the global media invited to Beaverton this week to peep the new Olympic footwear and apparel range. There's a few highlights from Day One that really took our breath away, but the unexpected sucker punch was that there are now Nike models specifically designed for ALL sports... yep, that's ALL sports, every single one, even the weird pursuits such as sailing, archery, badminton, horse riding and weightlifting! And wait til you see the BMX stuff! Along with a gaggle of assorted media and more cameras than Tim Sha Tsui, we viewed the initial onslaught today and absorbed several presentations from key Nike staffers as well as a Q& A with a witty and entertaining Kobe Bryant, talking mainly about the craziest ball shoe we've seen for yonks, the new Hyperdunk. Given the timelines, we don't have time for in depth analysis right now, but we thought we'd whet your appetite with some of the more obscure discoveries. For a full report, clock sneakerfreaker later this week. To view the entire range, click here.
In the meantime, here's the full PR blurb for this shoe!
Nike TKV
Sport: Taekwondo
For the sport of Taekwondo in Beijing, Nike designers developed a new shoe for both training and competition, the TKV. To gain the best insights into the sport, designers consulted with top athletes in the discipline: Chinese team members Luo Wei and Chen Zhong (who will be seeking a third gold medal in Beijing). One key concern for such high performance athletes is avoiding injury as they progress through the early rounds of competition. A broken bone or bruised foot could greatly compromise their performance and possibly cost them a medal. To protect the tops of athletes' feet during training and qualifying rounds, a padded “glove” for the foot was designed and presented to the Chinese team. After a round of design revisions were made that removed the outsole on the ball of the foot and heel to provide natural traction for pivoting, the Nike TKV was born.
The Nike TKV’s synthetic padding is articulated at the ankle and scored to flex with the anatomy of the foot, providing lightweight protection and zero distraction for the athlete. A flexible perforated neoprene sock secures the pads in place while providing maximum breathability and skin contact with the mat. The surface material of the padding has been engineered to produce a loud, crisp sound upon contact with the opposing athlete’s chest pad.
Because Taekwondo is a combat sport, which requires opponents to wear either blue or red, three versions of the Nike TKV were created for Beijing: Sport Red for the red corner, Varsity Royal Blue for the blue corner, and white as a neutral option.
Key Features
-Nimble, protective foot cover maximizes impact protection
-Synthetic surface material engineered to emphasize scoring sound on contact
-Open bottom allows for natural contact between foot and mat
-Five-toe design keeps forefoot pads in place
-Breathable neoprene provides a snug, comfortable fit
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