We’re very proud to announce today that we have found Chris Vennum, who was the first athlete who wore Nikes

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[NKE  Loading...      ()   ] on the cover of Sports Illustrated. As a 14-year-old athlete, Vennum was featured on the cover of the magazine in May 1973.

After we set out to look for her, the folks at Nike – interested in knowing her story – sweetened the pot by offering $100 to the first person who got us in touch with her. Well, apparently we get around.

Within 48 hours, we were contacted by Scott Smith, who has amassed more than 20,000 signed Sports Illustrated magazines. Scott amazingly had Chris’ contact information and forwarded it on to us. And we just talked to Chris.

Before we start, we should say that Nike is going to honor Vennum of sorts by getting a framed copy of her on the Sports Illustrated cover in one of two cafeterias on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Ore., campus. Currently, there are approximately 500 framed copies of Sports Illustrated covers that feature Nike athletes or amateur athletes wearing the brand.

CREDIT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Darren: How did the photo come about?

Chris: I was a student at Altaloma High School in Altaloma, California and this was taken at a track meet in Los Angeles. I was getting ready to run the mile and this guy set up a tripod in front of me. I was just a kid so I said, “You better get this out of the way or I’ll run you over.” So he moved and I ran the race. And when I was done, someone said, “Do you know who that was?” (It was the famous sports photographer Walter Iooss, Jr.) I had no idea. But then they put my picture on the cover.

Darren: How did you get the Nike shoes on your feet? Nike was founded 11 months before.

Chris: I went to my local sports store quite often. I had bad feet so I had to pay attention to what was on my feet. I did well enough in track that it came to a point where they asked me if I would sponsor them and wear these kangaroo skin Nikes. I was honored to wear them and actually wore the same pair of shoes from when I was 13 to 16, when my career ended because I broke my foot. They were so light. I remember being impressed that they didn’t really weigh anything.

Darren: What does it mean to you to find out that you were first to wear Nikes on the cover of Sports Illustrated?

Chris: I never knew this before so I’m actually pretty excited.

Thanks to Scott Smith for helping us find Chris. Now please help us find the people at Fleer who can talk to us about the Billy Ripken Card!

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