Arts & Entertainment
Nike airs first ad starring transgender athlete
triathlete bikes, runs in new commercial

(Screenshot via YouTube)
Nike aired an ad starring Chris Mosier, the first transgender athlete on the U.S. team, during the Rio Olympics coverage on Monday night. This is the first time a transgender athlete has been the face of the brand’s advertising.
The 30-second commercial has a narrator, voiced by Oscar Isaac, following the triathlete around as he trains for the U.S. men’s national team. The narrator asks questions such as “How did you know you’d be fast enough to compete against men?” and “How’d you know the team would accept you?”
“I didn’t,” Mosier constantly replies.
“Everything that I’ve done in the last five, six years since I started to transition, has been with [a] ‘Just Do It’ mindset,” Mosier said 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.”
The ad is part of Nike’s “Unlimited” campaign which follows professional athletes and everyday people on their journeys.
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(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)















Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
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(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)














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PHOTOS: Taste of Point
Annual fundraiser supporting LGBTQ youth scholarships and mentorships held at Room & Board
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(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)















