Australian swimmer, Alicia Coutts, a 5-time Olympic medalist from the 2012 Olympic Games, has not netted one major endorsement since her stunning performance in London…until now.
Coutts was finally picked up in a partnership through 2014 with Speedo. The swimwear brand also landed Aussie swim star Christian Sprenger. Both are very familiar with the brand thanks to its ongoing deal with the Australian Olympic Committee. The news came the day after Coutts was named the Australian Swimmer of the Year at their annual awards banquet on Saturday.
“It’s great to become part of the Speedo family,” said Coutts. “I have always competed in Speedo and look forward to working with them over the next two years and beyond.”
Australian Swimming has suffered monetarily since the glory days of Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett. James Magnussen, The Missile, was the swimming powerhouse’s new hope. Alas, he lost at London Olympics in his signature event, the 100 meters freestyle, to US sprinter Nathan Adrian. Magnussen captured most of the Aussie media attention on the ramp up to London and the endorsement dollars, reportedly in the $750,000 range. (Magnussen is a Speedo ambassador as well.)
There is now renewed heat on the organization as one of the largest recipients among Australian sports, despite their perceived failings in London. Other sports had their funding cut yet were more successful at the Olympics than were the swimmers.
The Australian swimmers received more good news this week after Gina Rinehart, one of the wealthiest women in the world, pledged $10 million over the next several years to provide subsistence support to elite and developmental Australian swimmers.
In London, Coutts won gold in the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, three silver medals in the 200 individual medley, 4×200 freestyle relay and the 4×100 medley relay, and a bronze in the 100 butterfly. Sprenger collected a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke and a bronze as part of the 4 x 100m men’s medley relay.
