Herzogenaurach, Germany, April 27, 2021 
NEYMAR JR. PUMA GO CRAZY IN FORTNITE: UNLOCK NEW OUTFITS, GO CRAZY IN CREATIVE AND COMPETE IN THE NEYMAR JR. CUP
Global sports company PUMA has teamed up with Neymar Jr. and Fortnite to launch the Neymar Jr. x PUMA Crazy Playground, Creative Hub and exclusive PUMA rewards for the Neymar Jr. Cup. This week, Neymar Jr. will become the first ever athlete to join Fortnite’s Icon Series as part of the current Season 6 “Primal” Battle Pass.

In addition to the in-game Neymar Jr. Quests to unlock his outfit, Neymar Jr. and PUMA are taking over the Fortnite Creative from April 27 to May 4 with a special Paris-themed Welcome Hub. When you’re ready to get into the action, you can queue up for the ‘Go Crazy Arena’ playlist – a casual combat experience, created by the Fortnite community to celebrate Neymar Jr’s arrival from April 27 to April 30.

The “Go Crazy Arena” features an 8v8 match up with infinite respawns and power-ups enabled for players to earn gold by eliminating opponents, unlocking upgrades and special bonuses for players and their teams. The first to reach 200 eliminations wins.

The event culminates with ‘The Neymar Jr. Cup’ where players can compete in up to 10 games in their region’s three-hour time window to win commemorative PUMA x Fortnite FUTURE Z football boots. The top player per region in this solo tournament will receive a special pair of these exclusive not for sale football boots. To find out more visit here.

“As a huge gamer this is an honor and a dream to be the first athlete ever to feature their own custom outfits and game modes in the worldwide phenomenon that is Fortnite. This also gives me the opportunity to play with my fans and connect with the gaming community,” said Neymar Jr. “There are so many crazy modes and quests to play, and I can’t wait for people to experience them all. Let’s play!”

To celebrate this momentous launch, PUMA has teamed up with boot customizer @silni.art to create a one-off pair of custom PUMA FUTURE Z football boots to be worn on pitch by Neymar Jr. against Manchester City in the semi-final of the Champions League on April 28. 

The customized Spectra edition of the FUTURE Z features a FUZIONFIT+ compression band across the midfoot with Neymar Jr’s logos displayed on the medial side of each boot. Located on the lateral side are Neymar Jr’s Primal forms that can be unlocked within the Fortnite game. 

Don’t miss out on the must-play Neymar Jr. Crazy Playground and Creative Hub launching April 27. Fortnite just got craZy.

Herzogenaurach, April 28, 2021
PUMA reports strong Sales and Profitability Growth in the first Quarter despite Lockdown measures and Supply Chain constraints

2021 First Quarter Facts

 

  • Sales increase by 25.8% currency adjusted (ca) to € 1,549 million (+19.2% reported)
  •  Gross profit margin improves to 48.5% (Q1 2020: 47.6%) 
  • Operating expenses (OPEX) increase by only 8.6% 
  •  Operating result (EBIT) improves by 116.7% to € 154 million (Q1 2020: € 71 million)
  • Net earnings improve from € 36 million in Q1 2020 to € 109 million in Q1 2021
  • PUMA launches the SHE MOVES US communication platform to celebrate women 
  • PUMA unveils ONLY SEE GREAT brand campaign to spark optimism and self-belief
  • Neymar Jr. and PUMA launch a Creativity collection, featuring the FUTURE Z 1.1 football boot as well as shorts, training accessories and off-pitch apparel
  • PUMA launches new running technology NITRO 
  • PUMA launches new RE:GEN collection that regenerates textile industry waste into new products
  • PUMA’s new multi-channel distribution center in Geiselwind, Germany starts operations

Bjørn Gulden, Chief Executive Officer of PUMA SE:


 

“As expected, Q1 was a very strong quarter for PUMA. Despite a lot of COVID-19 restrictions and supply chain issues due to container shortages and port congestion, we delivered a 26% sales growth in constant currency to € 1,549 million and an EBIT increase of 117% to € 154 million. We achieved double-digit growth in all regions and product divisions and continue to see strong global demand for our products, both from consumers and retailers.

Despite the uncertainty about the longevity and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, continued capacity issues and cost increases in global freight and a tense political situation between key regions that could have a negative impact on our industry, we feel confident that 2021 will be a better year than 2020. We believe that we should achieve a full-year sales growth in the mid-teens and that we will achieve a significantly better profitability compared to last year. 

2021 will unfortunately be again a year with a lot of uncertainty which will make efficient operations and accurate planning difficult. Our objective continues to be maneuvering through this difficult time as well as possible in the short term without hindering the mid-term momentum of PUMA. We will continue to invest in product and marketing, strengthen our relationships with our retail partners and do everything we can to please our consumers.

The COVID-19 pandemic will probably continue to impact our industry throughout 2021, but we feel very confident for the mid-term future of PUMA and our industry.”

First Quarter 2021

Sales increased by 25.8% (ca) to € 1,548.8 million (+19.2% reported), despite COVID-19-related lockdown measures and supply chain constraints due to port congestion especially in North America. All regions and product divisions supported this sales growth with a currency-adjusted double-digit increase. Americas was up 38.5% (ca), driven by North America, Asia/Pacific grew 28.8% (ca), led by Greater China and EMEA was up 14.0% (ca), despite lockdowns in Europe. The growth was lead by Footwear (+27.0% ca) and Apparel (+27.2% ca), based on strong demand for our Running and Training as well as Sportstyle categories. Accessories growth was at 19.4% (ca), strongly supported by golf, as well as the leg- and bodywear business.

PUMA’s Wholesale business increased by 24.3% (ca) to € 1,202.0 million, despite lockdown-related store closures in several markets and supply chain constraints in North America. The Direct to Consumer business (DTC), which includes owned and operated retail stores as well as e-commerce, increased by 31.3% (ca) to € 346.8 million, driven by strong growth in e-commerce of 74.9% (ca). 

The gross profit margin in the first quarter improved by 90 basis points to 48.5% despite negative currency effects. The improvement in gross profit margin was driven by a better sell-through of our products and less promotional activity.

Operating expenses (OPEX) increased by 8.6% to € 601.1 million due to higher sales-related, warehousing and distribution costs mainly driven by a strong increase in the e-commerce business as well as higher marketing investments.

The operating result (EBIT) in the first quarter increased significantly to € 154.3 million (Q1 2020: € 71.2 million) due to strong sales growth, higher gross profit margin and continued OPEX control. This resulted in an improved EBIT margin of 10.0% in the first quarter of 2021 (Q1 2020: 5.5%).

Net earnings increased significantly from € 36.2 million to € 109.2 million and earnings per share were up from € 0.24 in the first quarter of 2020 to € 0.73 in the first quarter of 2021.

Copyright - Puma

Working Capital

We were able to reduce our working capital by 6.2% from € 788.7 million last year to € 740.2 million as of March 31, 2021. Inventories increased by 8.3% from € 1,129.9 million to € 1,224.0 million. Trade receivables were up 36.5% from € 672.0 million to € 917.5 million due to strong sales growth in March. On the liabilities side, trade payables increased by 42.1% from € 742.3 million to € 1,054.9 million due to extended payment terms agreed with our suppliers.
 

Outlook 2021

The year 2021 started with an all-time high of COVID-19 cases globally and continued restrictions for our operations in numerous markets. At the end of April 2021, approximately 30% of the retail stores selling our products in Europe and Latin America are still closed due to lockdown measures and the remaining 70% are mostly operating with significant restrictions. With global COVID-19 cases rising again sharply, we also see new restrictions and lockdowns in other parts of the world such as India, Canada and Turkey. By consequence, we foresee a continued negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business throughout 2021. In addition, supply chain issues due to container shortages and port congestion especially in North America as well as recent political tensions in key markets are also leading to increased uncertainty in our industry. 



Despite all these uncertainties, our sales grew by 25.8% (ca) and our EBIT increased by 116.7% in the first quarter of 2021, underlining the relevance and momentum of our brand even in a difficult market environment. Given a strong first quarter, we are now in a position to further specify our initial outlook of “at least moderate sales (ca) growth with upside potential” to “mid-teens sales (ca) growth” for the full year 2021. Our outlook for both the operating result and net earnings has not changed and we continue to foresee a significant improvement compared to 2020 despite the global uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. We do not provide a detailed outlook on our gross profit margin and our OPEX-ratio as their development will mainly depend on the duration and development of the COVID-19 pandemic and the timing and negative impact of corresponding restrictions on our sales. 



We will continue to manage the negative implications of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as we can in the short-term and are convinced that PUMA will emerge stronger from this crisis. Our strong and profitable growth in the first quarter, a very positive orderbook and strong product pipeline for the rest of the year and very good feedback from retail partners and consumers make us confident for the mid-term success and growth of PUMA. 

BOSTON, MASS., May 12, 2021
PUMA SIGNS WNBA SUPERSTAR BREANNA STEWART TO GROUNDBREAKING DEAL

Global sports company PUMA has signed a long-term, groundbreaking partnership with WNBA MVP and Champion Breanna Stewart “Stewie.” The superstar athlete will serve as a brand ambassador both on and off the court, and will play a vital role in helping grow PUMA’s business, by collaborating and creating products including a signature shoe.

“I am proud to join the PUMA family,” said Breanna Stewart. “We share a vision to grow the sport and welcome everyone - specifically women and girls - globally. The genuine investment PUMA has shown to collaborate with and activate around women, including the commitment to a signature performance shoe, is something that I hope serves to raise the expectations and standards of the generations of basketball players who follow me.”

Stewart has set a new standard throughout her career, including being the only player of any gender to win four consecutive NCAA Championships and a four-time Most Outstanding Player during her time at the University of Connecticut, being the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, celebrating a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics and capping off last year’s WNBA season with her second Championship and Finals MVP.  

Beyond the court, Stewart is known for advocacy work around equality and social justice, standing up for Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ community. She also has embraced the opportunity to lend her support and give back to the community by investing in basketball development programs and donating to great organizations like the Black Future Lab. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Breanna Stewart into our PUMA family,” said Adam Petrick, Global Director of Brand and Marketing for PUMA. “She embodies what it means to be a PUMA athlete with her on-court determination to her off-court activism for equality in all forms. We are excited to work together in many ways to not only be an advocate in the community but to also help grow the sport for women everywhere.”

Stewart also will be part of PUMA’s newest women’s platform “She Moves Us,” which celebrates women who move culture and sports forward and inspire other women around the world.

 

Herzogenaurach, Germany, May 18, 2021
Nine out of ten PUMA products will be made with more sustainable materials by 2025

By 2025, nine out of ten PUMA products will be made of more sustainable materials, as the sports company aims to make a positive environmental impact across its product range.

In 2020, PUMA already achieved an important milestone by sourcing 100% of the core materials used in its Apparel and Accessories, such as down, viscose and cotton, from more sustainable sources.  Above 97% of other materials such as leather,  polyester and cardboard also came from certified sources in 2020. This means that 5 out of 10 PUMA products were made from more sustainable materials last year.

By opting for such materials, PUMA reduces the amount of water and chemicals used in the production process compared to conventional materials. As a next step, PUMA will increase the amount of recycled materials in its Apparel and Accessories products and by 2025, 75% of the polyester used in these PUMA products will be from recycled sources. As part of this commitment, we joined the “Recycled Polyester Challenge” by global nonprofit organization Textile Exchange.

“In our sustainability strategy, we focus on making the largest possible positive impact, so our customers know that by buying a PUMA product, they buy a sustainably sourced product,” said Stefan Seidel, Head of Corporate Sustainability at PUMA. “We will continue to push hard to live up to our mission statement of being ‘Forever Better’.”

After establishing its first sustainability strategy more than 20 years ago, PUMA has set up a comprehensive list of targets, the 10FOR25, which seeks to make the company as a whole and its products more sustainable. The targets include commitments on topics such as climate, human rights, biodiversity and circularity.

In 2021, PUMA also launched several collections with a specific sustainability focus. PUMA sought to rethink waste with the ReGen collection, which is made from PUMA’s own waste material and other recycled materials: leather off-cuts, cotton off-cuts, and polyester made from recycled plastic. The Exhale collection, which was made together with model and climate activist Cara Delevingne, uses recycled polyester and offsets the carbon footprint.

The products of the First Mile collection, first introduced in 2020, use sustainable yarn made from recycled plastic. Through the recycling process, First Mile also creates jobs and strengthens micro-economies in Taiwan China, Haiti, and Honduras.

With these collections, as well as other ranges made from organic, recycled or vegan materials, PUMA shows its engagement to offer products made sustainably.

 

PUMA Forever Better
Herzogenaurach, Germany, 31 May, 2021
Sports company PUMA celebrates Pride Month with events, a collection and by raising awareness

Sports company PUMA will celebrate this year’s Pride season by hosting events, releasing a capsule collection and raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, as part of its continued support for the LGBTQ+ community.

To signal the company’s long-established policy of welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, the front of PUMA’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany will light up in rainbow colors during all of June. Diversity and inclusion are a core part of PUMA’s culture and the company encourages all of its employees to be their authentic self.

PUMA has also created the Forever Free Pride Collection with model and LGBTQ+ activist Cara Delevingne. This is Cara’s most personal and introspective collection, inspired by the idea that in order to exist to one’s fullest potential, we must express and show all the parts that make us unique. PUMA will donate 20% of the proceeds to the Cara Delevingne Foundation, a project of the Giving Back Fund, which supports LGBTQ+ organizations around the world. 

As part of its #REFORM program, PUMA works with several LGBTQ+ charities. These partnerships include the Trevor Project, which focuses on mental health crisis and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, UK-based charity Football v. Homophobia and BAGLY, the oldest youth-led LGBTQ+ charity in the United States, just to name a few.

In Germany, PUMA will make its headquarters available to record DJ sets, which will be streamed for virtual Pride events in Nuremberg and Erlangen in cooperation with CSD Nuremberg.

herzogenaurach, germany, june 10, 2021
ONLY SEE GREAT:NEYMAR JR. INSPIRES CHILDREN FROM BRAZIL WITH INCREDIBLE SURPRISE

Global superstar Neymar Jr. and PUMA teamed up to bring a special surprise to the children of Brazilian football club Centro da Coroa FC to encourage them to chase their dreams and to ‘Only See Great’.

Only See Great’ inspires the next generation to achieve greatness on and off the pitch, to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. As part of the platform, Neymar Jr. and PUMA hosted a memorable day for the children of Centro da Coroa FC – a local football club located in Neymar Jr’s home state of São Paolo. As a child Neymar Jr. met his heroes, who inspired him to achieve greatness, now Neymar Jr. wants to do the same for young promising stars of the future. The children received PUMA x Neymar Jr. gifts and a special piece of paper with a message from their hero Neymar Jr. asking them to draw their dreams. After the children finished drawing, Neymar Jr. appeared on screen, creating an incredible surprise.

“Centro da Coroa FC is a football club striving to bring children closer to sport and support them on this path,” said Thadeu P. Nogueira, Football Director at Centro da Coroa FC. “Having Neymar Jr. and PUMA do something so special for the children will live long in the memory. This has been one of the best days of their lives and has encouraged them to keep dreaming.”


“Today was an emotional day, to share my experiences and inspirations with children from my home country, it filled me with so much joy,” said Neymar Jr. “I come from humble beginnings too, so I wanted to inspire them to follow their dreams no matter what their situation or where they start in life. Have faith and dream big.”

 

NJR-OSG-KIDS
herzogenaurach, germany, june 16, 2021
ONLY SEE GREAT:ANTOINE GRIEZMANN GIVES BACK TO CHILDREN FROM HIS HOMETOWN CLUB U.F MÂCONNAIS
Global sports Company PUMA has partnered with France superstar Antoine Griezmann to give back to his local football club in Mâcon before heading to the European Championships with France.

As part of PUMA’s ‘Only See Great’ platform Antoine reached out to U.F Mâconnais to give back to the children with amazing gifts and a special video message to inspire the next generation of young football hopefuls.

PUMA’s ‘Only See Great’ platform represents inspiring the next generation to achieve greatness on and off the pitch. As a child Antoine met his heroes, who inspired him to achieve greatness, now Antoine wants to do the same for young promising stars of the future.

After receiving gifts from their hero, the children performed special goal celebrations for Antoine - who is renowned for his unique celebrations, to inspire him and send good luck messages to their hero before he sets his sights on achieving greatness with France at the European Championships. 

Herzogenaurach, Germany, June 22, 2021
PUMA welcomes NHL All-Star Leon Draisaitl as brand ambassador
Global sports company PUMA has signed a long-term agreement with NHL All-Star Leon Draisaitl, who will become the first NHL ice hockey player to join the company as a brand ambassador.

Draisaitl is one of the NHL’s most successful players of his generation. In the 2019/20 season, Draisaitl firmly left his mark on the sport by becoming the first German player to win the Art Ross Trophy for scoring the most points and also being named the most valuable and most outstanding player in the NHL that year. He was also voted athlete of the year in Germany in 2020.

“Joining the PUMA Family as the first NHL player is something very special,” said Leon Draisaitl. “PUMA has teamed up with many great athletes such as Usain Bolt and Neymar Jr. and I’m excited to be part of this group.”

“Leon is a is a global star in one of the fastest and toughest sports,” said PUMA Chief Executive Officer Bjørn Gulden. “His performance, attitude and personality make him a perfect fit for PUMA!”

Draisaitl will wear PUMA’s training products including FUSE and Cloudspun apparel.

 

 
Herzogenaurach, Germany, June 24, 2021
PUMA commits to protecting forests in partnership with NGO Canopy
Sports company PUMA has committed to protecting forests around the world when sourcing paper, cardboard, and viscose, as part of its new partnership with not-for-profit environmental organization Canopy.

When PUMA products contain viscose, the raw material must come from top-of-class fibre producers which are regularly audited and then ranked by Canopy in its Hot Button Report. By procuring only from suppliers that achieve a top rating from Canopy, PUMA is avoiding risk of sourcing from ancient or endangered forests.

“Forests play a key role as carbon sinks and water reservoirs,’ said Stefan Seidel, Head of Corporate Sustainability at PUMA. “With our new Forestry Policy, we will ensure that PUMA is part of the solution to protect Ancient and Endangered Forests around the world.”

As part of its agreement with Canopy, PUMA has signed up to the Pack4Good and CanopyStyle initiatives, which work to empower supply chains to save forests, and bring alternative, next generation solutions to the mainstream, both in packaging and viscose production.

“We’re very excited to welcome sportswear giant PUMA to the CanopyStyle and Pack4Good initiatives,” said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy’s Executive Director. “Transforming unsustainable supply chains is vital to keep forests standing, protect biodiversity, and stabilize the world’s climate. PUMA strives to be at the front of the pack and today they are clearly demonstrating that leadership.”

More information about PUMA's Biodiversity and Forest Protection Policy can be found on the Forever Better section of our website.

Image Credit: Paul Hilton

 

Herzogenaurach, germany, june 29, 2021
THE SPEED DISCO KING:KINGSLEY COMAN TALKS FOOTBALL FASHION WITH SEPP MAGAZINE
Global football star and PUMA athlete Kingsley Coman has graced the cover of prestigious football fashion magazine SEPP to talk THAT 2020 Champions League winning goal, the latest trends in men’s fashion and gives an exclusive look behind the curtain of his incredible journey to football stardom, having captured his 10th consecutive league title.

In the iconic Paradiso, one of Munich’s most storied discothèques, Kingsley serves up looks every bit as memorable as his on pitch heroics with key looks handmade by Germany’s leading bespoke tailor, Detlev Diehm, complimented with hand-stitched PUMA archive pieces. Elegance is the latest trend in Men’s fashion and Coman takes this to new levels showing a never-before-seen side to The Speed Disco King.

Launched in 2002, SEPP magazine is a football fashion publication that taps into players rare ability to convey and magnify style trends. SEPP showcases football’s biggest personalities, the cross over culture and fashions relationship with sport. Published every two years for the World Cup and European Championships, SEPP features world famous football players modeling for bespoke fashion shoots, showcasing the off-pitch personalities of the stars of the beautiful game.

(Photo credit - Julia von der Heide for SEPP Football Fashion)

SEPP Magazine Nr.11 is available to purchase here.

Boston, Massachusetts, July 5, 2021
PUMA signs double event US National Champion JuVaughn Harrison
Global sports brand PUMA has signed JuVaughn Harrison, the freshly crowned U.S. National Champion in both the men’s high jump and long jump at the recent US Olympic track and field trials, where he qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. JuVaughn will be the first US athlete to compete in both high jump and long jump since 1912.

The 22-year-old JuVaughn pulled off the epic double last week in Eugene, where he also punched his ticket to the Games on the last day at Hayward Field to close out the U.S. Track and Field Championships. JuVaughn first cleared a solid 2.33 meters in the afternoon, and later returned that evening with an impressive 8.47 meters in the long jump.

“JuVaughn Harrison is one of the most exciting athletes in all of the sport of Track and Field,” said Pascal Rolling, Head of Running Sports Marketing at PUMA. “He has not just the talent, but also the personality and confidence to help him go far. You don’t come across many athletes who are as good in either event, let alone able to set personal bests in both the high jump and long jump within hours of each other at major championships.”

JuVaughn will join fellow LSU alumnus Mondo Duplantis in the PUMA Family of world-class athletes and brand ambassadors and will add to an already incredibly strong roster of jumpers across multiple events.

“PUMA just felt like the right fit,” said JuVaughn. “They have several athletes who are simply at the top in their respective event, including my friend Mondo Duplantis. I’m excited to be part of such an elite group. On a side note, my parents are Jamaican, so growing up I followed athletes like Usain Bolt and so it makes me proud to join such a brand and be part of the legacy.” The newly crowned US champion has not lost a high jump competition since March 30, 2019, - which includes 15 straight competitions in the high jump that he hasn’t been beaten.


herzogenaurach, germany, july 12, 2021
FASTER+: PUMA joins forces with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 to create its fastest ever Track & Field spikes

Sports company PUMA and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 have teamed up to create PUMA’s fastest, lightest and most propulsive Track & Field spike to date.

Together with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1, PUMA applied engineering insights from the world of Formula 1 and automotive to design the EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE FASTER+ and the EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE NITRO FASTER+ for its athletes, including Karsten Warholm, Norwegian hurdler, World Record holder, World Champion and European Champion, and André De Grasse, Canadian sprinter and Olympic silver medalist.

“To make the best spikes for our athletes, that comply with the regulations, we connected the engineers of Mercedes AGM Petronas F1 with our best footwear people,” said PUMA CEO Bjørn Gulden. “With the input from our athletes and their coaches, the team developed the best spikes PUMA has ever made.”

Learnings and technological advances from the FASTER+ program were also passed down and integrated into other track and field spikes for athletes such as Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and Swiss sprinter Ajla Del Ponte. “The FASTER+ program is about creating elite products for our elite athletes to help them excel in their sport” said Erin Longin, Global Director Run/Train at PUMA. “We believe that together with Mercedes AMG Petronas, we have created unique, innovation-led Track and Field spikes that will help our athletes run faster, jump farther and soar higher.”

“This collaboration with PUMA has been a natural alignment – track spikes need to run fast, and racing cars need to drive fast,” said Toto Wolff, CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One Team. “Whether you’re designing a great racing car or the perfect track spike, it comes down to engineering and putting as much performance as possible into the product. We have drawn on our experience and expertise in carbon fibre with the design, and along the way we learned that making an innovative track spike involves the same kind of complexity as a Formula One car – and it has been an exciting challenge to tackle together. Working closely with a trusted partner like PUMA, I believe this FASTER+ track and field spike is just the beginning of the collaboration between the two companies when it comes to innovation.”

 

The EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE FASTER+ was designed together with 400m hurdles World Record Holder Karsten Warholm and his coach. The spike’s upper is infused with carbon fiber threads and its sole has a carbon plate, engineered by Mercedes AMG Petronas, with permanent titanium pins. It weighs 135 grams.

„What’s important for me is that I run very much on my forefoot,“ said Karsten. “This is why you want the carbon fiber plate to push you in the right direction, so when you land you want the plate to bend in the right way and return the energy. When you sprint, you have a very short amount of contact time with the ground, only 1/10th of a second, so you want the plate to answer very quickly. Therefore, I want the carbon to be stiff enough that I get the return before I leave the ground. That helps me run even faster.”

 

Puma - Copyright

To respond to the needs of Canadian 100m and 200m sprinter Andre De Grasse, the EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE NITRO FASTER+ includes PUMA’s proprietary NITRO Foam in addition to the Mercedes AMG Petronas engineered carbon plate for added rebound. It weighs 199 grams.


“I believe that the partnership between PUMA and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 is excellent for the brand. It’s pretty cool that I actually have the carbon fiber in my spikes that’s going into the F1 cars that Lewis Hamilton races in," said Andre. "The stiffness of the plate is just amazing because I’m able to get off the ground as quickly as possible. Having this propulsion forward at the start of the race and being able to rebound and get off the ground as quickly as possible make these spikes just perfect for my 100m race."


PUMA’s FASTER+ program applies engineering insights from every corner of sport culture to our PUMA sports products. Benefits are focused on helping our athletes excel in their sport by looking beyond their typical field of play to make them better, faster, stronger.  

 

Andre de Grasse PUMA Faster Plus

“What I feel is very unique about this project is that it combines the best of all the worlds,” added Karsten. “It combines what PUMA knows about how to make a shoe that’s comfortable and fits your foot. It combines what Mercedes knows about carbon fiber through their Formula 1 work and it combines what my coach and I know about running and the biomechanics for running. This is very unique and it has given us the perfect product for us to work on the track - a spike that is really aggressive, with a really good forward propulsion, and it gives me all the tools I need to be the best version of myself. “

 

Karsten Warholm

FASTER+ is part of PUMA’s Only See Great’ campaign – launched in the spring of 2021 - to convey a spirit of optimism, hope and self-belief – following a difficult year and leading up to major sports moments.

 

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