Name, image, and likeness deals are one of the foremost ways of recognizing talents. It serves as a confidence booster for budding athletes, and brands also benefit from it. There have been many athletes, like the popular LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, who signed a NIL deal with Vuori in 2021 at the tender age of 18. Since then, the 20-year-old New Jersey-based gymnast has been an inspiration for upcoming athletes.
Following this, a Boston-based sports apparel brand has signed five American track and field stars recently. More so, most of these athletes are younger than Dunne, and they already have a multimillion-dollar brand to support their athletic dreams.
A groundbreaking deal to fuel athletic dreams
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As per the reports from Citius Mag, New Balance has inked a NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal with five American track and field stars. The athletes included in this partnership are Sadie Engelhardt, Quincy Wilson, Tinoda Matsatsa, Daniel Simmons, and Ali Ince. This expansion of New Balance’s NIL initiative follows their previous agreement with Cameron Brink, a player on the Stanford women’s basketball team who signed the same deal with the brand in August.
Pete Riley, the Head of Running Sports Marketing at New Balance, stated, “We are so excited to continue growing the sport through our NIL partnerships with some of the most talented young athletes in the country.” These newly added stars will have the privilege to get their products customized as per their will and will be decked out in New Balance footwear and apparel throughout the year.
As a part of their deal, these athletes can also attend the $5 billion brand’s events and share pictures so as to promote the brand. These athletes earned their New Balance deals through their exceptional performances in their respective sports, making this partnership a well-deserved reward for their talents and dedication.
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Meet the ath-elites of New Balance
Sadie Engelhardt is a junior runner at Ventura High School in California, but she has impressed everyone with her remarkable talent. During her freshman year, she claimed the New Balance Nationals titles in both indoor and outdoor mile events. She is also the first Californian high school girl to secure state titles in both the 800- and 1600-meter runs within the same season.
Quincy Wilson is a 15-year-old runner who hails from Bullis School, Maryland, and is also one of the youngest athletes to sign a NIL deal. He was declared the winner of the 400-meter heat at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. Tinoda Matsatsa is from St. Andrew’s Episcopal High School. He secured the podium finish at the 800-meter sprints in the New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor 800-meter titles.
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Daniel Simmons is a senior from American Fork, Utah, and he was the winner of the New Balance Nationals Outdoor two-mile title in an impressive time of 8:41.23. He is also considered a prominent contender for a national title in the 2023 cross-country season. Ali Ince is a junior from Normal Community High School, Illinois, and she holds the title of reigning New Balance Nationals Indoor Champion. She also qualified for the Pan American U20 Championships, where she achieved an admirable fourth-place finish. All of these athletes now have a brand supporting them through their entire journey while they make waves in the world of athletics.