Ashton Eaton’s gold medal victory also wins free Nikes for Portland newborns
By Roje Smith
U.S. decathlete Ashton Eaton owns a pair of Olympic gold medals and is responsible for Portland newborns owning their first pair of Nike shoes.
Entering the 2016 Rio Olympics, U.S. decathlete Ashton Eaton was the defending Olympic champion. He was favored to win the gold medal again in Rio despite facing stiff competition from Canada’s Damian Warner. However, once the grueling two-day event concluded, Eaton was once again on the podium with his second Olympic gold medal. As a result, he can retain his title as “World’s Greatest Athlete.”
Eaton not only defended his Olympic title, but he also won something for newborns in Portland. Olympic sponsor Nike delivered a pair of Waffle 1 sneakers for every child born at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center on Thursday. The shoes came in a custom “My First Nike” box accompanied by an inspirational note. The note will be something for the children to cherish once they’re at an age where they can read it.
Ashton was born in Portland and raised in Oregon. He was also a member of the prestigious University of Oregon track team before going pro. Nike featured him, Serena Williams and other Olympians as newborns getting a pep talk about their athletic destinies. The clever ad campaign was known as “Unlimited Future.”
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The Waffle 1 shoes that the babies received come in a lime green color with the Nike swoosh in red. Their inspiration comes from one of the Olympic sponsor’s first products, a running shoe where the sole was made on a waffle iron.
The gift is a great gesture from Nike and it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the newborns went on to become an Olympian. Perhaps one of them will grow up to be the next great decathlete just like Eaton.