Olympic Champion, Cullen Jones, Signs Four Year Swimwear Endorsement Deal

SPEEDO USA, a division of PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH), today announced that 29-year-old swim star Cullen Jones has signed a multi-year agreement with the company through 2017.   A two-time Olympian, Jones had an outstanding summer in London, winning silver in the 50m Freestyle, gold in the 4x100m Medley Relay, and silver in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay at the 2012 Olympic Games.  He joins Team Speedo with his sights set on the 15^th FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain where he hopes to represent the USA in the sprint freestyle events and relays.

After nearly drowning at the age of five, Jones has worked throughout his career to help reduce the drowning rate among minority youths in the U.S., sharing his personal experience as part of the USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make A Splash” initiative.  Now, in addition to his continued efforts with “Make a Splash,” Jones will also work with Speedo to promote swim safety as the face of the brand’s Learn to Swim program and associated product line.  Speedo will also support Cullen’s Diversity Meet, which will be a yearly, world-class swim meet for minority swimmers in the U.S.

A New Jersey native and graduate of NC State, Jones resides in Charlotte, NC, where he trains under Coach David Marsh; he is represented by Evan Morgenstein of PMG Sports.

Cullen Jones, Olympic Champion

“I am very excited to be a part of the Speedo family,” said Jones.  “I appreciate their support as I continue to race – and in my work to educate kids and parents about how important it is to learn to swim.”

“Cullen is not only one of the fastest swimmers in the world, but he is also one of our sport’s greatest ambassadors,” said Jim Gerson, President of Speedo USA.  “We are excited to welcome Cullen to the Speedo family and are proud to support him, and his advocacy efforts, both in and out of the pool.”

Jones turned pro in 2006 and quickly turned heads by winning gold in championship-record time in the 50m Freestyle at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships.  At that same meet, he became the first African American to break a World Record as a part of the USA’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Team.  In 2007, Jones earned his first World Championship title as an integral member of the men’s 4x100m Free Relay team in Melbourne, and won Olympic gold as part of the history-making men’s 4x100m Free Relay team in Beijing.  Soon after, he set an American Record in the 50m Freestyle and won gold in the 4x100m Free Relay at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome.  En route to London, Jones won the 50m Freestyle and finished second in the 100m Free at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha.

As part of Team Speedo USA, Jones will be part of an athlete advisory group to the SPEEDO Aqualab, the brand’s research and development center, and will train and compete in Speedo suits, accessories and related gear.  He will also have an opportunity to pursue his interest in design and work with the brand to help develop new, fashion-forward swimsuit designs.

Team Speedo swimmers include Olympic Medalists Michael Phelps (USA), Natalie Coughlin (USA), Ryan Lochte (USA), Dana Vollmer (USA), Nathan Adrian (USA), Tyler Clary (USA), Eamon Sullivan (AUS), Park Tae Hwan (KOR), and Rebecca Adlington (GBR).

SPEEDO is a registered trademark of and used under license from Speedo International Ltd.  Warnaco Swimwear, Inc., a subsidiary of PVH that does business as Speedo USA, is the authorized licensee of the SPEEDO trademark in North America and the Caribbean.

Cullen Jones Photo Vault

Cullen Jones, Olympic Champion

Cullen Jones, Olympic Swimming Champion

Cullen Jones, Olympic Swimming Champion

Cullen Jones, Olympic Champion

This is an unedited press release. Speedo is not a swimswam partner.