A French student has taken job applications to the next level by running through the streets of Strasbourg to draw the Decathlon logo using GPS tracking technology. Thibaud Le Gal, who studies innovation and project management, covered several kilometers while using the Strava running app to create a perfectly recognizable version of the sporting goods retailer's logo across an entire neighborhood.
The creative idea emerged from a simple observation: the Decathlon store at Les Halles in Strasbourg hadn't yet updated to the company's new logo. Rather than dismissing this as a minor detail, Le Gal turned it into a mission. Armed with his Strava app, he carefully planned a GPS route that would reproduce the brand's new symbol on a city-wide scale.
What started as an automatic rejection from the company became an opportunity for Le Gal to demonstrate his philosophy of innovation: test, fail, learn, and bounce back stronger. His LinkedIn post about the experience has already gone viral, attracting nearly 7,500 reactions within five days. The post combines humor and self-deprecation while highlighting his five years of education and various experiences in innovation, strategy, and group facilitation.
The project required significant planning and execution. Le Gal spent considerable time mapping out a route that would create a clear, readable logo when viewed on GPS mapping software. The result was far from a casual Sunday run – it involved covering multiple kilometers along a carefully designed, corrected, and refined path that perfectly reproduced Decathlon's symbol across Strasbourg's streets.
This unconventional application method serves as more than just a creative gesture toward Decathlon. It represents Le Gal's approach to transforming desire into action. While most job seekers might send a follow-up email or polite message, he created a demonstration of motivation that immediately communicates who he is: someone who tries, adapts, and creates opportunities rather than waiting for them.
Le Gal's ultimate goal is to secure an internship in innovation, strategy, or ambitious project management. His viral post showcases not only his creativity but also his genuine curiosity for exploring new territories and pushing boundaries. The LinkedIn community has responded enthusiastically to his authentic approach, proving that originality and persistence can pay off even when traditional applications fail.
The initiative demonstrates how creativity can meet perseverance without forced staging or artificial storytelling. Le Gal simply took the idea of thinking outside the box literally, using the opportunity to send a broader message to companies about innovation. His approach suggests that breakthrough ideas don't emerge from standard application forms but from unexpected detours, experiments, and creative risks.
While Decathlon apparently didn't recognize the initiative's value, the success of Le Gal's social media post proves that authenticity and determination bear fruit. By drawing a logo at city scale, he showed a pronounced taste for experimentation and an ability to bring ideas to life in the real world. This approach reveals much more than a traditional resume and poses an interesting question to any company that encounters his post: what if the next person capable of redesigning your trajectory is already running toward you?
The case recalls other creative job applications that have gained attention in recent months, including a creative professional who sent 'his guts' as a resume to land an advertising job. While Le Gal's approach was perhaps less dramatic, he nonetheless proved he has what it takes to stand out in a competitive job market through innovation and determination.
