SPEEDO USA, a division of PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH), today announced the extension of its long-time partnership with 12-time Olympic medalist and 20-time World Champion Natalie Coughlin through 2016. One of the most decorated and versatile female swimmers of all time, Coughlin has worn Speedo swimwear her entire career and will continue to represent the brand on the road to Rio and beyond. As part of the partnership, Coughlin will continue her role as part of an athlete advisory group to the SPEEDO Aqualab, the brand’s high-performance research and development center, and will also use her expertise to help SPEEDO USA further reach the ever-growing swim fitness community.
A Team Speedo star since 2004, Coughlin is aiming to make her fourth Olympic team in 2016, where she could become the single-most decorated American female Olympic athlete of all time – Coughlin is currently tied with Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson with 12 Olympic medals earned in three Olympic Games; she is represented by Janey Miller at Octagon.
Natalie Coughlin, Olympic Swim Star & Speedo USA Athlete (follow Natalie on Twitter @NatalieCoughlin) (Photo is courtesy of Jana Schulze)
“I’m excited to continue my longtime partnership with SPEEDO,” said Coughlin. “I have been a part of the SPEEDO family since I started swimming professionally – and wore Speedo long before that – and their support both in and out of the pool has helped me become the swimmer I am today.”
“SPEEDO is proud to continue our 10+ year relationship with Natalie,” said Jim Gerson, President of SPEEDO USA. “Not only is she one of the most decorated swimmers and Olympic athletes of all time, but she is truly one of the greatest ambassadors the sport of swimming has ever seen.”
A veteran on the U.S. team, Coughlin is the most decorated female swimmer in FINA World Championship history and has won a medal in every single Olympic event she’s ever entered. She earned her 12th medal in London, winning a bronze as part of the 100m freestyle relay. At the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Coughlin won five medals, including gold in the 100m backstroke and the 800m free relay, setting a record for her medal haul. In Beijing, Coughlin made history again, becoming the first U.S. female swimmer to win six medals at a single Olympics and the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the 100m backstroke.
Coughlin continues to train at California Aquatics in Berkeley.
Outside of the pool, the Bay Area-native pursues her commitment to healthy living as an avid home cook, urban farmer, amateur photographer, sports fan, and food lover. A sought-after TV personality, Coughlin has appeared on Iron Chef America, Dancing with the Stars, and, most recently, Food Network’s Chopped – Sports Stars episode, and has served as an analyst for the Pac-12 Network’s swimming and diving telecasts. She has also tried her hand at design, working with SPEEDO to create the Team Speedo Collection in 2012, which included a “Golden Girl”-themed line inspired by Coughlin and her California roots.
“SPEEDO has always provided the gear I need to compete at the highest level, while allowing me to maintain my own sense of style in the water,” said Coughlin. “Swimming is my career but it has also benefited me out of the water and is of course a key part of my fitness routine. I can’t wait to work more closely with SPEEDO to share the benefits of swimming and inspire more people to get into the pool for fitness – and for fun.”
Jim Gerson, president of Speedo USA and Calvin Klein Swimwear
“Natalie is a true advocate for healthy living and resonates with the fitness community across all categories,” added Gerson. “Naturally, she speaks to the benefits of swimming and is an authentic voice in the swim fitness conversation. We’re excited to work together as SPEEDO continues to encourage more people to dive in and swim with our wide-ranging Fitness collection.”
ABOUT SPEEDO
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations, and supporting swimming from the grassroots to the elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps. In the 1920’s Speedo made history with the Racerback, the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008, Speedo redefined swimwear again with Fastskin LZR RACER, one of the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuits ever created; 2011 saw Speedo unveil another world first with the Fastskin Racing System – a cap, goggle and suit designed to work together as one. Speedo is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V. and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; in North America and the Caribbean, Speedo is licensed exclusively to Warnaco Swimwear Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp. To find out more, visit www.speedousa.com.
Release is courtesy of Speedo USA, a SwimSwam Partner.
Congrats to Natalie. From a business standpoint, this award/contract is equivalent to winning numerous gold medals at the Olympics/WC.
These endorsements are huge for our athletes because of the obvious reasons and the ‘value’ of a sponsorship shouldn’t be minimized.
It would be great if our sport continues to grow and provide other sponsorship/revenue opportunities for our professional swimmers because these endorsements correlate with a swimmer’s livelihood and reflect the ‘strength’ of the sport outside of the pool deck.
Missy, rightfully so, will be ‘cashing in’ soon and become the next superstar to receive one of these coveted partnerships but congrats to Natalie in continuing her (now) 12 year relationship with America’s most recognizable swimsuit.
Let’s… Read more »
The real question is what about phelps and speedo?
wonder what Phelps will be wearing this weekend?!?! UnderArmour on deck but what about in the pool?