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A pair of Nike Air Jordan 1s have become the most expensive trainers (sneakers) sold at auction, fetching $560,000 (£462,351; €517,335) at an online auction held by Sotheby's, on 17 May 2020.

The Nike Air Jordan 1s were game-worn by Michael Jordan in 1985 after being made exclusively for the legendary NBA Chicago Bulls player.

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A new world record! @sothebys

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Despite being expected to fetch $100,000 to $150,000, the bidding increased by $300,000 within the final twenty minutes of the sale, taking the total up to a record-breaking amount.

The shoes are mismatched in size (left: 13, right 13.5), as was preferred by Michael Jordan when playing, and feature Jordan's signature in permanent marker on the right shoe.

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These shoes have taken the title from a pair of 1972 Nike Waffle Racing Flat "Moon Shoe" sneakers, which sold for $437,500 (£351,426; €391,554), including premium, at Sotheby's in New York, USA, on 23 July 2019.

The unworn shoes were hand-made by Nike co-founder and Oregon University track coach Bill Bowerman, and only a handful of the original batch of 12 pairs are left in existence.

1972 Nike Waffle Racing Flat sneakers aka Moon Shoe

Both the Nike Air Jordan 1s and the Nike Waffle Racing Flat "Moon Shoe" sneakers were sold at auction by Jordan Geller (aka Jordy) from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

In addition to holding the record for most expensive trainers (sneakers) sold at auction more than once, Jordy also holds the record for the largest collection of sneakers / trainers with 2,388 pairs.

Jordy has termed the warehouse where the sneakers are based the 'ShoeZeum' and he owns the largest and most comprehensive collection of Nikes in the world; no surprise then that the record for the most expensive trainers (sneakers) sold at auction have both been Nikes!

All of the shoes in the 'ShoeZeum' are brand new, in their original boxes and estimated to be worth over a million dollars.

We wonder what potentially record-breaking pair of shoes Jordy will sell next!