Fred Kerley has recently turned heads in the track and field community. No, this isn’t because of something he did on the track, but a new sponsorship between him and business tycoon Kim Kardashian has currently got everyone talking. Kerley had previously signed a multiple-year deal with athletic giants ASICS. But not even a year later, there seemed to be trouble in paradise. 

It started when the athlete had everyone talking about his participation at the NYC Grand Prix. Fans noticed Kerley sporting PUMA spikes at the event. ASICS had been an integral part of Kerley’s track journey. This move had fans speculating about his future with the brand. While nothing was confirmed then, everyone finally had answers shortly after. Both ASICS and Kerley put out statements confirming his amicable departure.  

Fred Kerley partners up with SKIMS

Kim Kardarshian’s loungewear brand SKIMS is partnering with Team USA as they prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics. This will be their third partnership, the first two being for Tokyo and Beijing. Fred Kerley has now joined in on the campaign and took to Instagram to announce it. He captioned the post, “Proud to represent Team USA in @skims SKIMS for Team USA drops Wednesday, June 26 at 9am PT / 12pm ET on skims.com.”

Kerley is seen sporting several pieces designed by the brand for athletes to wear when they’re not competing. At the previous Summer Games, Skims had designed womenswear for the athletes. However, this year the men get to partake as well. Their collection for Paris includes swimsuits, T-shirts, loungewear, and printed underwear. 

The track star is the newest athlete in line with the campaign. Olympian and all-rounder champion Suni Lee is the face of this Summer Games campaign. Other athletes like 7-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel, 29 Paralympic medalist Jessica Long, Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas, and Paralympic gold medalist Nick Mayhugh are also part of the campaign. 

Posing meticulously in each of the pictures, Kerley is seen showing off his athleticism. The campaign also highlights the athlete’s prowess beyond the track. Many fans were caught off-guard seeing the news coming right after his departure with ASICS. But, Kerley’s collaboration with SKIMS marks an exciting time for what’s coming at the French capital.

Fans react to the exciting campaign

Fred’s post announcing the campaign sent fans into a frenzy. Many took to social media to voice how they felt. One fan expressed, “Let’s go! Forget asics, their sprint spikes were trash anyways 😂🤷🏽‍♂️” While many were surprised by his departure, they agreed that partnering with SKIMS was an upgrade for the athlete. 

Another fan pointed out, “This is why he had zero issues dropping ASICS. He’s been playing financial chess since he came out of college. Y’all better follow his example” Walking out of a multi-year deal with the athletic giants seemed like an abrupt decision to many. But his announcement tied the loose ends together. 

One fan predicted, “The price don went up!!!!” SKIMS has lately been collaborating with several big-name athletes. But it’s no surprise that with the upcoming Summer Games, everyone would want to rep the same loungewear as their favorites. 

Another fan observed, “Fred said stoppppp playing with him! 😤 Had the pictures ready to post expeditiously. Congrats!!! 🎉.” Coming on the heels of his ASICS deal falling apart, the timing of this announcement seemed to have many believe there’s more than what meets the eye. A professional boxer left a cheeky comment, “Ok Kimbo Slice” Many took notice of him playfully comparing the track star to the professional mixed martial artist. 

The high-profile campaign has cemented Kerley’s position as a brand ambassador. This could open up several avenues for the athlete, both on and off the field. With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching, fans will now be watching Fred Kerley’s every move. What does the star athlete have in store before the big games? Only time will tell.