2012 Year In Review - Nike
2012 really has been something else. Sport has never witnessed a more exciting and ground-breaking year for new products and technology. The world's leading sports companies have been locked in a fierce battle for supremacy on and off the field. Who's landed the biggest punches? That's for you to decide!
For Nike, 2012 will go down as one of their most significant years. From day one, there hasn't been a dull moment. Take a look at each of Nike's biggest moments in 2012 and try not to be impressed! Congratulations Nike, you've caught our attention, once again.
Kicking off the year, Nike unveiled a completely new product - the Nike+ FuelBand. An innovative piece of kit that tracks movement throughout the day, while motivating and inspiring users to be more active. The Nike+ FuelBand captures four different metrics: time, calories, steps and NikeFuel - a new metric to measure your athletic activity. Simple, fun and intuitive. It's been a breakthrough year for the Nike+ FuelBand. 
Footwear innovation reached new heights this year as Nike unveiled their revolutionary Flyknit technology - a landmark moment in the evolution of athletic footwear. Nike's never ending pursuit to improve its products has led them to knitted performance, creating a shoe that features only the essentials with a featherweight, formfitting and virtually seamless upper. Minimalist design, maximum return. Our favourite product of 2012.
The Mercurial Vapor VIII was Nike's first big boot launch of the year. Unveiled in March, the Vapor VIII was the biggest thing to happen to Vapor since the original Vapor. The boot was completely redesigned from top to bottom for explosive speed, delivering Nike's lightest ever Vapor boot at 185g. Quite significantly, the Vapor VIII became the first Nike boot to feature the SG pro plate - a unique mixed stud configuration inspired by the pros. 
Nike set the ball rolling for the 2012 European Championships with one of their greatest ever TV ads. The My Time Is Now video featured a global roster of the world s biggest football superstars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Iniesta, Laurent Blanc, Pep Guardiola, and basketball heavyweight LeBron James. It quickly became Nike's fastest growing video of all time. All we can say to Nike is good luck topping that for Brazil 2014!
As the countdown to Poland and Ukraine continued, Nike lifted the lid on their 2012 tournament pack - the Nike Clash Collection. Nike's Mercurial Vapor VIII, CTR360 Maestri II, T90 Laser IV and Tiempo Legend IV boots each featured a striking clash of colour with a white toe upper to create a distinctive yet common theme across the collection. They delivered style and performance on pitch, making them the showpiece boots of Euro 2012. 
Nike dropped the biggest bombshell of 2012 with the surprise launch of the Nike GS football boots - the lightest, fastest, most environmentally-friendly production boots they had ever made. Conceived and engineered in Italy, the Nike GS featured recycled and renewable materials to make it Nike's lightest ever boot as just 165g. Neymar was unveiled as the boots only player, wearing them throughout the Olympic Games. The most exciting and ground-breaking football boot of 2012. No arguments. 
Dictating the pace of the game as a tiny figure on a miniature football pitch, Andres Iniesta officially launched the new CTR360 Maestri III boot in August. Designed as the ultimate playmaker's boot, the new CTR360 featured enhanced control, traction, support and lightweight comfort. And using next generation Kanga-Lite synthetic material, introduced All Conditions Control (ACC) technology for the first time.
Nike announced the Final 100 players participating in "The Chance" 2012, a unique global talent search that gives amateur footballers the chance to prove themselves on an elite stage and take their game to the next level. This year, the final event was held at FC Barcelona s iconic training ground, and was the final process in reducing over 100,000 global entrants to the top 16, who experienced the ultimate training tour as their reward. 
Another significant move for Nike. All Conditions Control technology was rolled out across all Nike silos in September. ACC tech ensures the surface of the boot upper delivers consistent friction between boot and ball in wet conditions, allowing the player an assured touch similar to the feel of the ball in dry conditions. The ACC technology is created by a special treatment during the development of the upper materials. 
The new CR7 on- and off-pitch collection blended the uncompromising attitude of one of the world s most iconic footballers with an irreverent, bold style that symbolizes Cristiano Ronaldo's approach to life. SoccerBible was in attendance at the Madrid launch, to witness first-hand CR7 as a relentless, focused footballer at the peak of his power, and the more playful and spontaneous style icon with a love of music.
The second generation of Nike's GS boot is unveiled alongside a fresh squad of Europe's best young players. Theo Walcott, Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling, Mario Goetze, Christian Eriksen and El Shaarawy all line-up wearing the lightest, fastest, most environmentally friendly production boot Nike has ever made, now updated with All Conditions Control (ACC) technology.
What have been some of your favourite moments from Nike in 2012? Let us know. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
