Nike's 'You Can't Stop Us' ad goes viral for visuals, message

Nike's latest ad entitled "You Can't Stop Us" has garnered 19 million views on YouTube as of August 1 for its distinctive visuals and empowering message.

The ad used 72 sports archive footage showing 53 different athletes playing 24 different sports--in a split-screen presentation in which actions in one frame seamlessly merge into the one beside it, appearing as if the movements are done by one person.

The message it conveyed related to inclusion, perseverance, social justice, and the pandemic which cancelled many sporting events around the world.

"You Can't Stop Us," which runs for 1 minute and 30 seconds, accompanied the visuals with the voice of soccer player Meghan Rapinoe, who narrated:

"We're never alone, and that is our strength. Because when we're doubted, we'll play as one. When we're held back, we'll go farther, and harder. If we're not taken seriously, we'll prove that wrong. And if we don't fit the sport, we'll change the sport."

The ad features Black, White, Asian, and Muslim athletes showing their similarities in movement. An equestrian soars on a horse and then transforms into a BMX rider flying off a jump. Swimmers dive from a starting block at the same time sprinters explode off the line to start a race.

In another frame, disabled and able-bodied athletes as well as male and female compete in different sports, such as soccer and basketball.

A woman wearing what appears to be a Burka rides a skateboard, then turns into a person riding the same object while holding a rainbow flag.

Meanwhile, in response to the pandemic, the ad showed footage of an empty stadium and workers wearing protective equipment spraying down stadium seats. This was then followed by scenes of everyday people playing tennis while in quarantine.

The ad also addressed the protests against racial injustice by showing athletes in multiple sports kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

"We know things won't always go our way," Rapinoe narrated. "But whatever it is, we'll find a way. And when things aren't fair, we'll come together for change."

"No matter how bad it gets, we will always come back stronger," the soccer player said in closing. "Because nothing can stop what we can do together."

"You Can't Stop Us" also featured the following athletes: LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, Eliud Kipchoge, Caster Semenya, Cristiano Ronaldo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Serena Williams, Colin Kaepernick, and Kylian Mbappé.

The ad was conceptualized and made by advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy, film production companies Joint and Pulse Films, and visual effects studio A52.

Photo is from sneakernews.com