Overweight Nike Jogger Becomes Unlikely Online Hero

Sportswear ads usually feature the fittest, strongest and most elite of sporting celebrities. This one features an overweight teenager you've never heard of, but in this summer of sport he's quickly becoming one of the web's most talked about aspiring athletes.

Perhaps calling Nathan Sorrell an athlete is misleading. The 12-year old is 5 ft 3in and weighs over 90kg and he doesn't compete in any particular sport. He just wants to get fit, and he trains with the heart and commitment of a medal-winning Olympian.

Sorrell came to the world's attention in Nike's Find Your Greatness campaign, an ambush marketing campaign that is designed to steal the thunder of rival and Offical Olympics Sponsor adidas during London 2012.

Find Your Greatness features everyday people from around the world enjoying their chosen sports. They may not be world-beating champions, but Nike argues their sporting achievements are no less impressive than those of competing Olympians.

Sorrell is a perfect example of that. He's unhealthily overweight, and as he shuffles uncomfortably down the road, his exhaustion palpable. The shoot really pushed the youngster to the limit of his endurance, having to pause between takes to throw up at the side of the road. But however tough he finds the run, he refuses to give in.

The ad has become a hit online, earning nearly 780,000 shares since it was launched eight days ago. Since then it has garnered over 101,500 shares and is the subject of over 140 articles online.

Some of the stories are critical of Nike using a teenager's battle to get into shape to sell products, but all of which acknowledge Sorrell's impressive endurance.

Whatever you think of the ad, inspiring or exploitative, we're sure you'll agree, Sorrell's commitment to getting fit is truly impressive.