It’s not just any summer — the Olympics summer is here. With the commencement of the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes from all across the world are competing across varied sports disciplines. Besides introducing new role models and viral sensations like Italian gold medalist swimmer Thomas Ceccon, the Olympic games are also dominating fashion trends. Expand your sporty wardrobe essentials with these recommendations of the best Paris Olympics-themed sneakers to buy.
While horology fans are collecting Olympic watches by Omega, sneakerheads can also indulge in the spirit of the Olympics by choosing shoes that capture various iterations of the games, their legends and the vibe of the host city. With the 2024 Summer Olympics being held in Paris, the city’s fashion influence has certainly rubbed off on the new designs entering the sneaker market.
Among the major sneaker releases of the sporty season is the comeback of the Nike Kobe 4 “Gold Medal” series which was originally released to honour Kobe Bryant’s first-ever Olympic gold medal win at the 2008 Beijing Games. The range dropped on August 6 and sold out in a flash. While it may be difficult to get your hands on the highly in-demand Nike Kobe 4 sneakers, here are some other Paris Olympic-themed sneakers you can add to your collection.
The most stylish Paris Olympics-themed sneakers to buy
Nike Kobe 4 “Gold Medal”
With most sneaker brands are busy unveiling brand new designs amid the ongoing Paris games, Nike re-released its timeless Kobe Bryant retro sneakers featuring a red and navy outsole, on August 6. The long-awaited return of the sneakers was met with great fanfare, with online shoppers quickly snapping up pairs for USD 190 on the Nike SNKRS app, Foot Locker, and other select retailers.
Much like every other model from the Nike Kobe signature line, the re-released Kobe 4 “Gold Medal” sneakers sold out within the first few hours of release. If you’re determined to get your hands on a pair, though, you can consider turning to resellers.
Jordan 4 Retro SE – Wet Cement
Capturing the greys of the cobbled streets of Paris, the Jordan 4 Retro has been revamped in a cement colourway. Inspired by the original 1989 release, this version of the Jordan 4 also draws similarities to the KAWS x Air Jordan 4 range which featured a similar grey shade. While maintaining the classic Jordan 4 design, this model consists of a luxe suede panel at the forefoot and comes in a debossed grid pattern at the quarter panel adding a sense of adventure to its aesthetic. Above all, it’s also the superior cushioning system that makes this a worthy addition to your collection.
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 “Olympic Medals”
ASICS also dipped into the Olympic fever by launching a new edition of GEL-KAYANO 14. Titled Olympic Medals, the sneakers aptly celebrate one of the biggest sporting events in the world and its coveted rewards — the medals. As a nod to the Olympic prizes, the sneakers are designed with gold colourways with a metallic glaze. The shoe’s heel, toe cap and tongue detailing feature hues of vivid gold whereas the mesh upper contrasts the rest in clean white. Giving a perfect nod to the medals, elsewhere, the shoe also features a shiny silver pattern around the lace opening and a beige midsole. If you are looking for a pair of sneakers that captures the winning spirit of the Olympics, these are an apt choice.
Nike Jam “Dark Driftwood”
As breakdancing made a debut on the global stage at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Nike honoured the addition of the competitive form of street performance at the tournament with the release of Nike Jam — the breakdancing shoe. With its innovative design focusing on enhancing athletic style, the sneakers promise unparalleled performance for breakdancers. Comprising a blend of mesh, leather, and suede materials, Nike Jam guarantees high-performance agility and impact protection with its design. Thanks to its chunky and stylish look, this model is also a suitable addition to your personal collection from the list of Paris Olympics-themed sneakers.
Asics Court FF3 Novak “Paris”
if you wish to channel the agility and passion of tennis player Novak Djokovic, who scored a historic gold medal win at the Paris Olympics, these Asics player-edition sneakers dedicated to the Serbian athlete should be your pick. While the brand has released the eye-popping shoes in bright neon shades as a part of its Olympics range, Djokovic’s Serbian-inspired design features a subtle look. With accents of red, blue, and grey, the white sneakers define sophistication. In a particularly peculiar design choice, there is also the addition of confetti style details across the midsole and tongue that add a playful look to the otherwise simple shoes.
Noticeably, Djokovic made a major change to his sneaker choices for the Olympics as he ditched the all-red version from the Roland-Garros games in favour of these white sneakers to dominate the courts of Paris clay.
Nike Electric Pack
The Nike Electric Pack has been truly standing out on the world stage as athletes have picked varied models from this range to compete in tournaments across several sporting disciplines. World-class athletes have been spotted wearing a range of models from the Electric Pack including Rafael Nadal in his player-edition version, to Great Britain’s gold medal-winning, middle-distance runner Keely Hodgkinson donning the bright orange pair of Nike Victory 2 Electric trainers with spike for her 800m race.
The Nike Dragonfly 2 also stole the show at this year’s Olympic games as a top choice for several track athletes. Offering endurance and high performance even for non-athletes, these sneakers will have you feeling like an Olympic winner in everyday situations. The bright shades of orange with a hint of neon green make these shoes a noticeable accessory and can be paired with an understated athletic outfit to add a dash of colour.
Nike SB Dunk Low “Olympic Safari”
Releasing in conjunction with the Paris Games, the Nike SB Dunk Low “Olympic Safari” is a fresh iteration that perfectly compliments summer wardrobes. With a predominantly grey upper overlaid with the iconic safari print that has been synonymous with the brand, these sneakers find the right balance between being sporty and stylish. The shoes are constructed in suede while the overlays are spotted in animal prints along with the signature Swoosh highlighted in black. Also adding a pop of colour to the otherwise monotone upper of the shoes are the chlorine blue laces and orange branding on the tongue.
While the Olympic Safari range is set to release towards the end of the 2024 Olympic Games, the SB range of Nike previously became popular during the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo when it was released to celebrate the first time that skateboarding became an Olympic sport. The Nike SB Dunk Low Safari “Olympics” are reportedly set to hit the market on August 9, 2024, at select skate shops in-store, and online at Nike.
(Main and featured images: Keely Hodgkinson/Instagram; Nike)
This story first appeared here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Spotted on the feet of many athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the distinctive, bold orange pair of sneakers are a part of Nike's Electric Pack.
As opposed to the traditional red track, this year athletes were seen running on a purple-coloured track. In keeping with this change, several sneaker brands like Nike released shoes in eye-popping colours of orange to ensure maximum visibility on track.
The earliest version of the Nike Waffle was distributed to runners at the 1972 Olympic track and field trials in Oregon.
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Surabhi Redkar is a pop culture enthusiast with a keen interest in celebrity fashion and beauty trends. A post graduate in multimedia journalism from Birmingham City University, she has worked with several Indian and international media organisations such as Pinkvilla and DesiBlitz covering topics spanning fashion, beauty, and travel. When not binge-watching Netflix series and movies, she's exploring quiet bookstores and buying new coffee equipment. Scrolling through social media for celebrity gossip and new travel destinations is her favourite way to spend the weekend.
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