Michael Johnson Dual Signed | Nike ‘Gold Shoe’ Track Spikes

Custom-made and never released to the public, the Nike “Gold Shoe” track spikes stand among the most iconic pieces of Olympic and footwear history. Designed exclusively for Michael Johnson ahead of the 1996 Atlanta Games, the golden spikes were an audacious statement worn before the medals were won. Johnson delivered one of the most celebrated performances in Olympic history, winning both the 200 meters and the 400 meters, setting a new world record in the 200 meters and an Olympic record in the 400 meters. He became the first man to capture both events at the same Games, earning the title “the man with the golden shoes.”

The pair offered here represents one of Nike’s most significant athlete collaborations. Tobie Hatfield, brother of Tinker Hatfield, served as lead designer, and Nike’s Innovation Director Michael Donaghu later remarked that the Gold Shoe would not have existed without Johnson’s direct involvement. Every element of the design reflected a pursuit of speed and lightness. The uppers, constructed from Zytel in just three parts, were stripped to their essence, with a thin tongue so minimal that the foot could be seen on either side. Even the six-pin spike plates featured milled cutouts to reduce weight.

The soles were asymmetrical and mismatched, engineered specifically for Johnson’s biomechanics. High-speed filming at Nike headquarters revealed that Johnson reached 20 miles per hour around curves and that his left and right feet interacted with the track differently. The result was a left and right shoe with distinct wrap-up cleats on alternating sides to maximize grip and efficiency. At Johnson’s request, the spikes were finished in metallic gold, with navy Swooshes on the lateral sides, red Swooshes on the medial sides, and black snap-button tongues, laces, and liners.

The Gold Shoes became a symbol of both athletic dominance and design innovation during the centennial Olympic Games. Other known examples have been exhibited in institutions such as the Bata Shoe Museum in Canada, the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado, the Olympic Museum in Switzerland, and the Nike Store in Portland. At Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, the Michael Johnson Track and a bronze statue of Johnson wearing his gold spikes continue to honor this achievement.

Michael Johnson concluded his career as a four-time Olympic gold medalist, with victories in the 4x400 relay in Barcelona in 1992, the 200 meters and 400 meters in Atlanta in 1996, and the 400 meters in Sydney in 2000. His performance in Atlanta, wearing the Gold Shoes, remains one of the defining moments in the history of the Games.

Offered in this lot is a pair of the Nike “Gold Shoe,” produced exclusively for United States Olympian Michael Johnson and signed by him on both shoes. The sneakers are accompanied by a letter from James Spence Authentication regarding the signatures.