New York | When John Donahoe took over as chief executive of Nike four years ago, the company had a stranglehold on the sport of running, its largest category. Now, it is at risk of falling behind.

Seventeen Nike athletes won individual gold medals in running events at the World Athletics Championships in 2019, compared with just five representing all other brands combined. Its Vaporfly 4 per cent running trainers were such a technological breakthrough that competing brands were giving their elite athletes permission to wear Nike shoes in races with the logo covered up.

Financial Times