# Inner-Child Athletic Campaigns The Never Lose the Love Ad Shows Athletes as Their Younger Selves By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2016-06-24 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/never-lose-the-love References: [ispot](https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AGQ2/gatorade-never-lose-the-love-feat-usain-bolt-serena-williams) & [gatorade](http://www.gatorade.com/loveofsports) A new ad for [Gatorade's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/renowned-soccer-icons) 'Never Lose the Love' campaign depicts a series of [successful athletes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/why-do-it) as kid versions of themselves. With the Olympics just around the corner, the ad reminds consumers that every great athlete once began as a determined young kid. In the Never Lose the Love ad, [superstar athletes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-for-athletes) Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, Paul George and April Ross go about their regular training schedule. However, instead of training on their own, each athlete is accompanied by a kid version of themselves that urges them to keep pushing. At the end of the ad, the kid version of each athlete celebrates along with their superstar counterpart as a reminder to never lose your childhood sense of passion and excitement. Although Gatorade products are nearly absent from the ad, the campaign does a clever job of connecting its brand to athletes of all ages. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 33% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Youthful Athletic Campaigns:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: By featuring athletes as their younger selves, brands can tap into nostalgia and inspire a sense of youthful passion and excitement. - **Emotional Connection with Athletes:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Brands can create a stronger bond with consumers by showcasing the human side of athletes and highlighting the journey from childhood to success. - **Promoting Passion and Determination:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Campaigns that encourage individuals to never lose their childhood love for a sport can inspire a new generation of dedicated athletes and tap into the growing interest in pursuing personal passions. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sports Apparel and Equipment:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Brands can develop marketing campaigns and products that evoke nostalgia and connect with consumers emotionally, promoting the idea that everyone can achieve greatness just like their childhood idols. - **Sports Drink and Beverage:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Companies can explore new approaches to advertising by focusing on emotional storytelling, positioning their products as a symbol of determination, perseverance, and the never-ending love for sports. - **Children's Entertainment and Media:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: By showcasing successful athletes as their younger selves, children's entertainment and media can inspire and motivate young viewers to pursue sports and physical activities, fostering a culture of active lifestyles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Empowering Soccer-Inspired Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/renowned-soccer-icons.md) - [Barrier-Breaking Sports Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fuel-tomorrow.md) - [Iconic Sports Drink Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gatorade-canada.md) - [Next-Gen Athlete-Starring Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/why-do-it-ad.md) - [Motivational Athlete Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adidas-you-got-this.md) - [Gen Alpha Fitness Influencers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asics-little-reminders.md) - [Retro Sports Drink Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gatorade-3.md) - [Inspirational Athlete Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/it-takes-more-to-get-this-far.md) - [Body-Positive Brand Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doves-super-bowl-ad.md)