08 Feb Skechers Extends Contract with Meb Keflezighi
Skechers Performance, a division of Skechers USA Inc., extended its contract with world-class distance runner, Meb Keflezighi. Keflezighi will continue as brand ambassador for Skechers Performance through 2023.
Skechers Performance will remain Keflezighi’s official footwear and apparel sponsor and continue to feature the elite marathoner in marketing campaigns as well as collaborate with Keflezighi on footwear introductions.
Since launching performance footwear in 2011, Skechers Performance has built an award-winning line up of running shoes based on the philosophy of listening to runners’ needs and building the best shoes not only for athletes, but with athletes. This philosophy began when Skechers Performance launched the first GOrun shoe with Keflezighi as the official brand ambassador and consultant.
“Skechers Performance has helped me achieve my goals over the past five years and the team’s support through all the highs and lows has been very consistent,” said Keflezighi. “Being 40 years old and training for the Olympic Trials is a huge achievement and Skechers Performance has helped make this possible. They know what it means to be a partner and working with the brand to help create the best running shoes possible has been a rewarding experience. It’s not something many athletes have the opportunity to do.”
After joining Skechers Performance, Keflezighi set a personal record (PR) at the 2011 New York Marathon, PR’d at the 2012 Olympic Trials in Houston and took fourth place at the 2012 Olympic Games. He then went on to set his current PR (2:08:37) and win the 2014 Boston Marathon at the age of 38, wearing his namesake Skechers GOmeb Speed 3. Keflezighi is the only athlete in history to win the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an Olympic Medal. Keflezighi also currently holds the U.S. marathon masters record, which was set at the 2015 New York Marathon with his time of 2:13:32.
In 2016, sights are now set on Keflezighi’s race at the upcoming Olympic Trials as he competes in the marathon for a spot on the U.S. team. Skechers Performance Elite Athlete, Kara Goucher, will also be competing for a spot on the women’s team. The trials will be held in Los Angeles on February 13th, the day before the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.
“Working with Meb has been an incredible journey and we are truly honored to have not only a star athlete on our team, but an inspirational person,” said Rick Higgins, SVP, Merchandising/Marketing, Skechers Performance. “Meb’s motivation is contagious. Anyone that has the pleasure of meeting him knows what I mean. He is a phenomenal role model, an essential ambassador to the sport, and a champion on and off the course. We are excited to continue working with Meb, as he has truly become a part of the Skechers family.”
From grassroots events to securing the title sponsorship of a major race such as the Los Angeles Marathon, Skechers Performance has continued to rapidly grow in the performance footwear market. Skechers USA is currently the second largest athletic footwear company in the U.S. and the Performance division’s steadfast commitment to running is evident not only via the company’s athlete partnerships and marketing initiatives, but with the product innovation. The new spring 2016 performance footwear line reflects such innovations and is the most technologically advanced performance footwear from Skechers Performance to date.