ESPNW.com's D'Arcy Maine reported Nike has "emerged victorious" in the sweepstakes to sign U.S. gymnast Simone Biles to a sponsorship deal. Biles announced her partnership with the brand on Tuesday "with a photo from its Portland location." Biles is a three-time All-Around champion at the World Championships, winning a total of 10 Gold Medals at the competition over the past three years (ESPNW.com, 11/11).
TRI AND TRI AGAIN: USOC sponsor 24 Hour Fitness has signed Olympic triathlete Gwen Jorgensen to lead its marketing campaign heading into the Rio Games. The gym chain will announce four additional athlete endorsers in the coming weeks. The athletes will appear in 24 Hour Fitness’ brand campaign, make guest appearances at particular gym locations and design new workouts for the club. Jorgensen celebrated the new partnership with a made-for-the-media workout at a 24 Hour location in midtown Manhattan today. She has won 12 consecutive events in the ITU World Triathlon Series, a streak dating back to May '14 (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer).
BOMBER JACKET: In a special to SKI magazine, Nathaniel Vinton reports U.S. skier Bode Miller "hasn't officially retired" despite announcing plans to take the '15-16 season off, and should he return to the slopes, "perhaps he will be on equipment from Bomber Ski." After "wiggling out of his contract with Head," Miller signed with the upstart company led by N.Y. real estate investor Robert Siegel and has "taken an equity interest in the company." Miller said that Bomber Ski "has the potential to develop a World Cup giant-slalom ski." Siegel said of Miller, "He's going to be involved in every aspect of the company, from the business plan to the design of the skis" (SKINET.com, 11/9).
VETERAN'S DAY: In Baltimore, Jeff Barker reports Under Armour "has signed retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder and retired U.S. Army First Lt. Melissa Stockwell to multi-year deals as 'brand ambassadors.'" Both veterans "are training" for the '16 Paralympic Games in Rio (Baltimore SUN, 11/12).
