Transgender Athlete Chris Mosier Stars in Nike's Latest 'Unlimited' Ad

Duathlon Pro Shows How Nothing's Gotten in His Way on the Road to Competition

Published On
Aug 08, 2016

Editor's Pick

Chris Mosier, the first openly transgender athlete to compete on a U.S. men's national team, stars in Nike's latest ad from its "Unlimited" campaign.

The light-hearted ad follows Mosier as he goes through his grueling training regimen, running, cycling and lifting weights. A voiceover questions him on how he knew he would get past certain obstacles-- like being able to compete against other men, being accepted by his teammates. Throughout, he bluntly explains, "I didn't," but pushes on, undaunted and seemingly without a care.

35-year-old Mosier, Nike's first trans athlete, first realized at the age of four that he didn't identify as female and continued to feel so as he went on to compete in women's athletics. But he then went on to achieve athletic success, as a man, in 2015 when he came in seventh at the sprint duathlon national championships in the male 35-39 group, landing a spot on the U.S. national team. As an advocate for LGBT athletes and founder of transgender resource site transathlete.com, Mosier has also helped to achieve change on the international level. He played a part in convincing the International Olympics Committee to amend its rules so that transgender athletes would not need to have reassignment surgery in order to compete as the gender they identify with.

"Everything that I've done in the last five, six years since I started to transition, has been with [a] 'Just Do It' mindset," he explained in a statement. "I didn't know if I would be competitive against men; I just did it. Every success that I've had since then has shown me that anything is really possible. By not stopping myself, not limiting myself and just really going for it I've learned a lot about myself and also had the opportunity to further the conversation on trans inclusion in sports."

Nike also created an accompanying behind-the-scenes film. The new ad, created out of Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, follows the "Unlimited Future" and "Unlimited You" spots, the latter of which debuted during the Olympics' opening ceremony. The campaign celebrates how everyday and professional athletes strive beyond their own limits to reach new heights.

Credits

Date
Aug 08, 2016
Brand :
Nike
Client :
Nike
Agency :
Wieden & Kennedy-Portland
Client Contact :
Ean Lensch
Client Contact :
YinMei San
Client Contact :
Amber Rushton
Global Creative Director :
Alberto Ponte
Global Creative Director :
Ryan O'Rourke
Interactive Director :
Dan Viens
Copywriter :
Adam Tetreault
Art Director :
Sara Phillips
Global Executive Producer :
Matt Hunnicutt
Agency Senior Producer :
Ross Plummer
Agency Producer :
Mauricio Granado
Art Production :
Amy Berriochoa
Art Production :
Jennifer Spillers
Project Management :
Christina Kim
Studio Design :
Alicia Kuna
Studio Designer :
Rehanah Spence
Studio Designer :
Edgar Morales
Retoucher :
Amy Corcoran
Retoucher :
Kyle Pero
Retoucher :
Saskia Thomson
Retoucher :
Greg Radich
Strategic Planning :
Andy Lindblade
Strategic Planning :
Nathan Goldberg
Strategic Planning :
Brandon Thornton
Strategic Planning :
Reid Schilperoort
Media/Comms Planning :
Daniel Sheniak
Media/Comms Planning :
John Furnari
Media/Comms Planning :
Brian Goldstein
Media/Comms Planning :
Jocelyn Reist
Account Team :
Chris Willingham
Account Team :
Alyssa Ramsey
Account Team :
Corey Woodson
Account Team :
Anna Boteva
Account Team :
Carly Williamson
Business Affairs :
Amber Lavender
Broadcast Traffic :
Stefanie Goodell
Broadcast Traffic :
Andrea Sierra
Production Company :
PRETTYBIRD
Director :
Max Malkin
Executive Producer :
Ali Brown
Executive Producer :
Suzanne Hargrove
Head of Production :
Tracy Hauser
Line Producer :
Matt Wersinger
Director, Photography :
Max Malkin
Production Designer :
Rob Pearson
Editorial Company :
Rock Paper Scissors
Editor :
Damion Clayton
Assistant Editor :
Mike Spagnoli
Post Production :
Dina Ciccotello
Post Executive Producer :
Helena Lee
Visual Effects Company :
The Mill LA
Creative Director :
Phil Crowe
Creative Director :
John Leonti
2D Lead Artist :
James Allen
2D Artist :
John Shirley
2D Artist :
Brad Scott
2D Artist :
Alex Candish
3D Artist :
Andy Wheater
3D Artist :
Jie Zhou
3D Artist :
Michael Lori
Visual Effects Producer :
Anastasia Von Rahl
Visual Effects Coordinator :
Rustie Burris
Visual Effects Executive Producer :
Enca Kaul
Color :
Mill LA
Colorist :
Adam Scott
Producer :
Diane Valera
Executive Producer :
Thatcher Peterson
Musical Artist :
Sandy Nelson
Track Name :
Drums Are My Beat
Sound Design :
Barking Owl
Sound Designer :
Michael Anastasi
Creative Director :
Kelly Bayett
Producer :
Ashley Benton
Music/Sound/Mix :
Lime
Audio Mixer :
Loren Silber
Audio Assistant :
Mark Nieto
Executive Producer :
Susie Boyajan

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