From the first-generation ADIZERO ADIOS to the PRO 4, how has Adidas continued its "record-breaking gene"?
Break the boundaries! From EVO 1 to PRO 4,
Adidas takes another step forward in technological innovation.
September 28, 2008, Berlin.
Early in the morning, hundreds of contestants had gathered at the starting point of the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Excitement and nervousness were intertwined on everyone's faces. The air was filled with the smell of sweat, energy drinks, and the friction of rubber soles on the ground.
One figure in the crowd was particularly noticeable. It was Haile Gebrselassie, known as the "Emperor of Long - distance Running." This Ethiopian athlete, who had set multiple long - distance running records, was standing at the front of the line in a bright yellow top and matching sneakers. The camera panned across his face, and a signature wide - mouthed smile appeared on the screen.
When the starting signal sounded, the 35 - year - old athlete started running with the pacemakers. "I admire his optimistic attitude. He must really enjoy running itself," the commentator said. The first half of the marathon is often a steady exploration, and everyone is looking for their best state, and Haile Gebrselassie is no exception.
As they reached the 30 - kilometer mark, the track became a bit quieter, and the originally close - knit group began to spread out. Those runners who had exhausted too much energy in the first half gradually slowed down, while those who had carefully controlled their pace quietly accelerated. When the muscles started to ache and fatigue slowly set in, every step became heavy, and with each landing, the impact could be felt spreading from the calves throughout the body. At this moment, the only thing accompanying the runners in their fight against the ground was the pair of running shoes on their feet.
And the real marathon only begins here.
Adios, World Record!
The night before the race, Gebrselassie was trying on a pair of oddly - shaped sneakers in his hotel room. The upturned toe of the shoe was shaped like a sharp icebreaker and resembled the starting position before a race.
He squatted down to tie his shoelaces, paced back and forth in the room and the corridor, and jogged up and down the stairs. He felt the unprecedented and wonderful rebound when the shoes touched the ground, as well as the stable support that made them feel almost weightless when standing still.
Haile Gebrselassie immediately made a rather bold decision to wear these shoes in the next day's race.
This pair of shoes was the first - generation ADIZERO ADIOS. It was the result of a four - year joint research and development project between Adidas and shoemaking master Toshiaki Omori.
Picture: The continuous innovation and achievements of the ADIZERO 0 series over the years
Toshiaki Omori first got involved with Adidas in 1999. He is well - known for his profound understanding of running anatomy and his extreme pursuit of details. His shoemaking concept is quite like that of a precise surgical doctor. In his opinion, running shoes must be "light enough" to maximize speed. Therefore, every part of the running shoes must fit the feet closely, respond to every structure of the soles, and adapt to countless complex training scenarios and roads - whether it's a 10 - kilometer speed run, repeated runs, interval training on a treadmill, or a super - marathon.
At this moment, Haile Gebrselassie was running on the main streets of Berlin in these ADIOS shoes. The race had reached the 35 - kilometer mark, and the Kenyan runner James Kwambai behind him was getting closer and closer. The pressure was always there. Haile Gebrselassie knew very well that every next step was crucial to the outcome of the race. The feedback from the ADIOS shoes on his feet became very clear. At a certain moment between breaths, he even felt that he had merged with these shoes.
"Imagine how it would feel if he were overtaken like this," the commentator's tone became urgent. The smile on Haile Gebrselassie's face disappeared, and he continued to adjust his breathing and pace, focusing on his own rhythm. Soon, Kwambai's steps began to slow down, and the distance between him and Haile Gebrselassie gradually increased.
At 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 29 seconds, Haile Gebrselassie ran towards the Brandenburg Gate with his arms outstretched, breaking the world record that he had held 12 months before. This was also his third consecutive victory in Berlin.
"Adios" means "goodbye" in Spanish. It sounds like what he is saying to the opponents he left behind and also like saying goodbye to the records he broke. True to its name, since Haile Gebrselassie broke the world record in the first - generation ADIZERO ADIOS, every running shoe in the ADIZERO series has achieved world - class results on the track.
In 2011, Kenyan long - distance runner Partick Makau wore the second - generation ADIZERO ADIOS and reduced the Berlin record by another 21 seconds. In 2014, Dennis Kimetto and the ADIZERO ADIOS BOOST 2.0 together refreshed this record again with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 27 seconds. This was also the first time the ADIZERO series introduced the BOOST material. This material was jointly developed by Adidas and its partner BASF Group after years of research and was officially launched in 2007. Its elasticity far exceeded the EVA mid - sole technology commonly used in the industry at that time, bringing better rebound and durability to the running shoes. In 2013, Adidas' first running shoe equipped with BOOST technology, the ENERGY BOOST, was born, and then witnessed the glorious moment when Kimetto broke the record. BOOST technology running shoes immediately created a "storm" in the global running circle, and it has been twelve years so far.
In 2023, the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO EVO 1 was born. This is the lightest racing running shoe in Adidas' brand history. In September of that year, Ethiopian female marathon star Tigist Assefa wore the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO EVO 1 and broke the then - existing women's marathon world record.
Picture: At the 2023 Berlin Marathon, Ethiopian female marathon star Tigist Assefa wore the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO EVO 1 and improved the then - existing world record by 2 minutes and 11 seconds
Some people have counted that since its launch in 2020, the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO series has become the racing running shoe series that has won the most world marathon grand - slam events. In 2024, the ADIZERO continued its strong performance, helping athletes break seven world records in road running and track and field events.
Picture: The ADIZERO 0 series is "addicted to breaking records"
"Our winning rate in the world's top - level events is 51%," Alberto Uncini Manganelli, the general manager of Adidas' Running and Sports Division, said with pride on his face. He told us, "This means that the total number of champions of all other brands combined is less than that of the ADIZERO series alone."
When the era of mass - participation racing running arrives, the ADIZERO naturally doesn't stop breaking records.
Faster, Lighter, and More Efficient
In 2024, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Marathon, Adidas launched the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4.
"It took about three years from PRO 3 to PRO 4," Manganelli recalled the research and development of the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4 and said that challenges and difficulties were almost a daily occurrence. "But we won't bring a semi - finished product to everyone. So we went through countless experiments and tests before launching PRO 4 - until we finally achieved the most perfect result."
The ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4 once again breaks through in terms of weight, weighing 200g, which is 12% lighter than the previous generation (Chinese size 265). This means that runners will have a lighter feeling on their feet, reducing the burden on their feet and significantly improving efficiency in long - distance races.
Picture: Alberto Uncini Manganelli, the general manager of Adidas' Running and Sports Division, introduces the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4
In addition to overcoming the core weight problem, Manganelli and the designers also made breakthrough innovations in the materials of the upper and the mid - sole.
The propulsion system of the mid - sole has always been a highlight of the ADIZERO series, and the design of the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4 in this aspect is more radical and innovative compared to the previous generation. Drawing on the successful experience of the ADIOS PRO EVO 1, PRO 4 uses a new forefoot rolling structure, moving the toe - up point forward to 60% of the overall length of the shoe. After the improvement, the upturned position of the toe is closer to the sole of the foot.
"The propulsion force for each step is obviously lighter, and the rebound is softer than that of the 3. It's easier to control the speed during long - distance running," said Fengz, a senior runner, after trying on the PRO 4.
The PRO 4 also uses a new LIGHTLOCK material for the upper, which not only further reduces the weight of the upper but also improves the overall wrapping feeling. There is also a stabilizing strap design inside, which can enhance stability and reduce slippage during running.
Picture: The core technology of Adidas' ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4
In the Berlin Marathon in September 2024, the PRO 4 made its debut. Kenyan runner Cybrian Konut wore the PRO 4 and stepped onto the podium in his first grand - slam event. His time of 2 hours, 03 minutes, and 22 seconds was worthy of being recorded in history.
Charlotte Heidmann, the director of Adidas' running shoe category, said that the PRO 4 was co - developed with some of the world's fastest runners, including Agnes Ngetich, Benson Kipruto, and Amos Kipruto. "This highlights our commitment to driving runners to victory through innovation."
"Only give the best to the athletes." Manganelli also said so. It is this belief that supports him and the entire Adidas team. Through day - after - day laboratory research and development, on - track experiments, and continuous restarts, the PRO 4 was finally developed.
Now, the ADIZERO 0 series has become a running shoe family that can cover from beginners to professionals. Whether it's casual runners or professional athletes, they can all find a suitable model in the ADIZERO 0 series product line.
Picture: The ADIZERO 0 series racing family
As Ben Herath, the designer of the first - generation ADIZERO ADIOS, said, "ADIZERO is suitable for everyone because we all want to run fast. That's the goal of ADIZERO - to let everyone enjoy the thrill of speed."
Innovation Never Stops
Once, when the whole world thought that the hot sales of Samba shoes would make Adidas indulge in fashion, CEO Bjorn Gulden has repeatedly emphasized to the outside world since taking office that becoming "the best professional sports brand" is Adidas' goal.
Undoubtedly, performance running shoes are one of the categories that can best reflect a brand's professionalism. At an earnings conference in July last year, this retired Norwegian football player revealed to analysts, "Adidas has a very wide and in - depth product line in running. In the future, you will see our running business continue to grow."
In fact, over the 76 years since its establishment, Adidas' long - term investment in sports technology is not limited to running shoe models. On the football field, the ControlSkin technology of the Predator football shoes allows players to precisely control every touch of the ball,