Since 1976, innovation has been the driving force behind Decathlon. Our first breakthrough was bringing all sports under one roof.
Today, our ambition goes further. Simply designing products is no longer enough.
Today, we innovate to make sport a lasting force for good, in line with our brand purpose.
Our goal: to remove every barrier to sport and make its benefits accessible to everyone.
When science meets the field
To innovate, we first had to understand the human body. In 1997, we created the SportsLab. A research hub in which our international teams of engineers and researchers study athletes in motion.
Why? So that we can make technology invisible.
We analyse how the skin breathes, how muscles react to cold, or how a child runs – turning these insights into practical solutions: swimwear that resists chlorine, jackets that offer breathability in monsoon conditions, or protective gear you barely feel.
Looking ahead, and by deepening our understanding of humans even further, we’ll begin to integrate mental, emotional, neuroscientific and environmental factors alongside physical research – showing that our products are designed to support a holistic approach to wellbeing.
Our iconics
Our greatest innovations often start with a simple observation. We look at the world and ask ourselves: how can we remove this barrier?
That’s how the 2-Second Tent was born, transforming the way people camp, how the Easybreath mask opened up the underwater world to those who didn’t dare explore it, and how the Rollnet turned any table into a table tennis table.
Pictured: The evolution of the Easybreath mask, from the "monster" (the name given to our prototypes) to the final versions.
In today’s fast-changing world, Decathlon is reaffirming its commitment to innovation. Our teams are moving from “designing innovative products” to “building a structurally innovative brand” – guided by our purpose: to bring people together through sport to make wellbeing accessible for all.
Sport itself is evolving – from an individual pursuit to a shared experience, from performance to a way of living a more fulfilling life. We believe sport must become a vehicle for more people, from more backgrounds, to build healthier, longer lives.
This is what drives Decathlon’s innovation strategy. We’re rethinking access to sport.
If getting to the mountains or the sea isn’t possible, we develop solutions that bring sport closer to home. For example, reimagining the living room as an integrated fitness space.
We explore the balance between play and performance.
By combining the joy of sport with technological performance, we make high-level experiences accessible to all – bringing excitement, pleasure and a sense of discovery within everyone’s reach. For instance, the latest generation of Easybreath masks allow you to fully dive below the water. We innovate for every moment in life.
We make sure everyone can express who they are through sport.
This means creating technical products that embrace the diversity of communities and individual needs – so no one feels excluded.
This vision of the future isn’t a distant ideal – it’s something we build every day through an open innovation approach. Whether testing new circular models or rolling out RFID technology for full product traceability, we work closely with partners, startups and leading research labs.
Internally, our Innovation Awards celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our more than 102,000 teammates. Because beyond patents and laboratories, innovation is first and foremost a human journey – one that brings sport to life.
Pictured: RFID robot in store
