Symmonds, sponsored by Brooks Running, has refused to sign a mandatory USA Track and Field (USATF) contract that instructs athletes to wear Nike gear. “I’m fine with it”, said Symmonds, who plans to eschew training for a bit to fish and rock climb.
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The team will be named Monday morning.
“Two years’ worth of work to try to win another medal for my country are now down the drain”, Symmonds said. ‘Is it frustrating? Of course. Symmonds is sponsored by a rival shoe company and wanted it clearly spelled out what constituted a team function.
I will dress appropriately and respectfully for all “official” Team functions, wearing the designated Team uniforms provided by USATF.
The latter two are not usually included in benefits assigned to athletes.
Gatlin’s showdowns with world record-holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica are expected to be among the highlights at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing from August 22-30.
The majority of athletes are willing to suck it up and wear the swoosh for a few weeks in exchange for the honor of wearing the red, white and blue at the sport’s biggest competition of the year. “USATF pays for it”. Symmonds tells SI that due to IAAF rules, he will be wearing bandages to cover up his Run Gum, a caffeinated gum product that he launched in October. 2014, tattoos at the world championships.
By refusing to sign the document, Symmonds is forgoing the chance at a winner’s compensation of $60,000 as well as a six figure bonus from Brooks.
“[Symmonds] is doing this because he thinks runners who make the national team deserve a salary”. According to his quoted sports economist, Andrew Zimbalist, there also seems to be accounting discrepancies within USATF that suggest $3.52 million in funds are missing.
“It’s a done deal”, she said. “This poorly worded, ambiguously written document, coupled with the letter that I was sent telling me to “pack ONLY Team USA, Nike or non-branded apparel” leads me to believe that USATF thinks every minute from the moment I leave my home is an official Team USA event”.
“It’s insulting how little comes to the athletes”, Symmonds said in an interview.
Athletes balking at contractual requirements to don apparel from competing brands is nothing new.
Since making his decision, Symmonds has received support from a number of fellow U.S. track stars, including Lolo Jones.
“Nick is trying to stand up for what he believes in, but he has to do it sensibly in a business-like capacity”, Trotter said. Words in the form of social media posts, petitions and the like aren’t going to generate enough noise to force the changes that will allow everyone-not just the best athletes-to thrive and make a living in the sport. Steph Curry is with Under Armour, and LeBron James is with Nike. He contends that he did not sign the statement of conditions in order to participate in that meet.
The conflict, first reported by Sports Business Daily, reflects an ongoing tension in track and field. They are very worthy of discussion and examination. They can’t tell athletes what to wear when they’re having coffee in the hotel. “It doesn’t have to take a standoff to achieve progress”.
(2) Demand that USATF increase revenue sharing with athletes to at least 50 percent of gross revenue. He now is sponsored by a smaller apparel company, Brooks.
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What is an “official” USATF team function?
