On August 3, US Gymnastics secured its biggest deal till now. The team collaborated with billion-dollar giants who represent the top-tier sports in America, including the NBA and MLB. US Gymnastics will now be collaborating with Nike on a five-year contract. The US Olympics gymnastics team including Simone Biles will be represented by the brand for the two upcoming big games held in Paris and Los Angeles, respectively.
Amid this deal, many gymnasts have shown their excitement through social media. Recently, Tokyo Olympic star Jordan Chiles, who is up for the Sullivan Award, has also posted her support for the brand. This news has created waves among gymnastics enthusiasts, as Jordan Chiles’s best friend Simone Biles has had a rocky relationship with the brand.
Simone Biles’ best friend embraces the collab
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On August 10, Jordan Chiles posted a video showing off her PR package received by Nike on her Instagram story. In the video captioned “Thank you so much, Nike, I can?t wait for tomorrow,” the athlete was seen being given a green bag with a pink card with “Welcome Jordan” written all over it. This video came only a few days after Jordan shared the stage at the US trial with best friend Simone Biles, who has a rocky history with the brand.
The gymnastics icon, Biles after turning pro in 2015, collaborated with the billion-dollar brand for many years. However, in 2021, before the infamous Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles decided to break ties with the brand. As Nike was accused of misogynistic scandals. The brand was accused of being sexist towards its female staff and female athletes.
After leaving Nike, Simone Biles decided to partner with another big brand, Gap. The athlete is now sponsored by one of their divisions, Athleta. The gymnast had announced her collaboration with the brand through a statement, revealing, “Athleta stands for everything I stand for.” However, despite the sour relationship with the gymnast, Nike has now become a part of US Gymnastics, and many gymnasts have shown their support for the brand. Last week, Olympian Jade Carey also posted a story showing his support for Nike.
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Jade Carey shows support for Nike
Only a few hours after the brand’s collaboration announcement with gymnastics, Jade Carey showed her support for the brand. On August 3rd, the Olympic athlete posted a story showing off his Nike Possession. Carey, who was seen to be sitting in an airplane, had posted a picture of her Nike Gamma Force White/Black sneakers. Alongside her $ 324 worth of shoes, the gymnast was also seen carrying a Nike Heritage backpack in the color Navy Blue.
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In essence, despite the bad relationship between Biles and Nike, from Jordan Chiles to Jade Carey, all top-tier athletes have started to graciously accept the brand?s collaboration with US gymnastics. Hopefully, Nike, which has decided to build a culture within the US gymnastics team, will have a beneficial impact on the team.
Watch this story: Days Before Her Grand Return Simone Biles Behind-the-Scenes Video Showcases a Powerful Fall