King saying she'll compete beyond the Tokyo Games could be key to her landing major sponsorsGETTY IMAGES
Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer Lilly King will compete in her last college meet with the Univ. of Indiana this week before she transitions to life as a pro, where she will "choose an agent, who will negotiate a swimwear contract with Speedo or TYR and try to lure non-swim-related sponsors," according to David Woods of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. King is an "appealing figure for her gold medals, talent and outspokenness." Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer Cody Miller said, "It's the year leading up to the Olympics that really matters. That's when you accumulate your sponsors." He added that King would be a "natural to represent McDonald’s, where she loves to eat, and Crocs, which she loves to wear." She has that "edginess associated with Nike, although it is unusual for the shoe giant to sign a swimmer to an apparel deal." King's decision to spend four years in college has cost her earnings, "notably $60,000 in bonuses for setting two world records" at the '17 World Championships. She did however earn "more than $100,000" from the '16 Rio Games. King said, "I’m not really motivated by money. I never have been." Agent Sheryl Shade said that the "most important thing" for King is to "declare she will compete beyond" the '20 Tokyo Games. Shade: "It’s almost the kiss of death to say you’re going to retire." Woods notes King has "no intention of doing so" before '24 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/20).
