Dina Asher-Smith, Ivana Spanovic, Ona Carbonell and Rafael Nadal for Nike
Still on a high from the Rio Olympics, Nike has unveiled its Tech Pack campaign featuring some of today’s most revered athletes. Including Rafael Nadal, Dina Asher-Smith, Ivana Spanovic and Ona Carbonell, the Teck Pack collection takes athleisure to the fashion podium by combining Nike Tech Fleece with Nike Tech Knit for the first time.
See below the medal-winning athletes in all their excellence sharing their on career and style
Rafael Nadal
Country Spain
Sport tennis
Olympic medals two gold medals (2012 and 2016)
Your career has been rather astonishing. Have you ever stopped to think what you have achieved and how?
Well, one knows what one has achieved, right? The problem with sports is that you don’t normally have much time to enjoy your achievements. An athlete’s life and career continues, and it seems like when you are competing, what happened before is not that important. This changes when you finish your career and look back to what you’ve achieved, but while you are competing, you keep going, and you want more and more. Obviously I am aware of everything I have achieved, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to achieve more.
How does Nike Tech Pack adapt to your style?
Very well, perfectly in fact. As I’ve said, I like comfortable clothing, and the fabric on the Tech Pack Jacket is great. It adapts perfectly. The Tech Pack Jacket gives me the comfort I need, and the materials adapt perfectly to my body. I have been using it for many years, and the truth is I love it; I use it all the time in a casual manner.
Dina Asher Smith
CountryGB
Sport track and field
Olympic medalsone bronze medal (2016)
Do you ever stop to think about how far you’ve come in this short amount of time, keeping in mind last year you were named the fastest teenager in history and the fastest British woman in history?
Quite honestly, I don’t stop to think about how far I’ve come in such a short span of time. I feel that if I stop to reflect I might become a bit overwhelmed, you know, or suspended in the moment. At the same time, I really want to stay grounded as I grow as an athlete. My process is to just go with the flow, see where my life takes me, and just take everything in stride and keep moving.
Does your style off the track match your style on it?
The two really don’t match. When I’m on the track, I like wearing bright colors and using layers of color when I’m training. Sometimes I’ll come into training with bright purple leggings and a pink top. My friends are often really surprised.
Ona Carbonell
Coutry Spain
Sport synchonised swimming
Olympic medalsone silver and one bronze medals (2012)
What does representing your country at the Olympic Games mean to you?
It means a lot, because representing your country in the Olympic Games is not an easy task. I have gone through many hard times, as well as easy ones, emotional times, not so emotional times, I have cried, laughed… So to get to the point I reached in London, where I won silver and bronze medals, and being about to partake of the Olympic Games again is amazing, representing my country makes me very proud, I hope to be able to give it my all, and do it well.
What is your biggest passion outside the swimming pool?
My passion outside the water is fashion design. I love painting; creating, innovating and I love fashion. I am about to finish a degree in fashion design, and I’ve had the opportunity of designing the swimsuits we have been using in the squad since 2013. Being able to wear my own swimsuits is very, very important for me, and something that is helping me greatly; I have learnt a lot from it, inside and out of the water. So fashion and design are what I’m passionate about, what drives what and me brings out the best in me.
Ivana Spanovic
CountrySerbia
Sport long jump
Olympic medalsone bronze medal (2016)
Being a good role model is important to you. How do you feel about becoming a good role model?
As a role model, it’s important for me to show that competing isn’t always about winning, or being famous, or doing cool things. Kids need to know that it takes work to be strong – they need to work every day to be stronger and stronger until they achieve their dreams: it doesn’t happen overnight. I think kids often forget about the work needed to get to an outcome. After they realize that, will start enjoying the path and not simply focus on the endgame.
You’re known for your unique sense of style. How would you describe your style?
I think I have a very casual style. The most important thing is that I’m comfortable in what I wear, that I feel good in it, and that I feel like myself.
The Autumn 2016 Nike Tech Fleece Collection is available now via the Nike Tech Book and from 1 September at nike.com/techpack and Nike Sportswear retailers