Adidas' $500 Supershoe Fuels Sub-2h Marathon, Boosts Shares 2%
Adidas' Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 helped Sebastian Sawe break the two-hour marathon barrier with a 1:59:30 finish in London, driving Adidas shares up 2% on April 27. The $500 supershoe is 30% lighter than its predecessor and improves running economy by 1.6%, intensifying competition for Nike.
1. Historic Marathon Record with Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe completed the London Marathon in 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in a sanctioned race while wearing Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 'supershoe'. The model, priced at $500, features a carbon-fiber plate and weighs 30% less than its predecessor, offering a 1.6% improvement in running economy.
2. Adidas Share Performance
On April 27, Adidas shares rose 2% in mid-morning trade as investors reacted to the historic marathon win powered by the new supershoe. Despite the rally, shares remain down nearly 20% since January on concerns over U.S. tariffs and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
3. Implications for Nike
Adidas’ official sub-two-hour finish underlines its lead in performance footwear technology after years of lab-driven development, challenging Nike’s dominance in the 'supershoe' market. Nike’s 2017 Breaking2 attempt and the 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge fell outside official records, leaving Nike under pressure to innovate swiftly.