24 Hour Fitness has announced a partnership with “Team 24 Hour Fitness,” which will send five athletes to represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This announcement comes just 139 days until the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Since 2004, 24 Hour Fitness has been a sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee and an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.
In the 12 years 24 Hour has been a sponsor of the USOC, the fitness brand estimates more than 100,000 athletes have trained at Olympic Training Centers, using 24 Hour equipment.
“Our distinguished athletes come from diverse backgrounds. They are each compelling, inspiring and relatable,” stated Mark Smith, the CEO of 24 Hour Fitness in a statement. “The athletes that make up Team 24 have embarked on the fitness journey of a lifetime and we look forward to sharing their stories with our members in the weeks ahead. It’s moments like this that reaffirm our commitment to helping people — everyday athletes and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls alike — reach their fitness goals.”
According to a press release, the five members a part of “Team 24 Hour Fitness” include:
Conor Dwyer: An elite swimmer and Olympic gold medalist participating in individual and relay events. Dwyer won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. 4×200-meter freestyle relay team at the London 2012 Olympic Games. In total, he has won 14 medals in major international competitions.
Gwen Jorgensen: A two-time world champion triathlete and the only U.S. woman to win back-to-back elite world titles in triathlon. She holds the women’s record for career ITU World Triathlon Series (WTS) wins with 15, and she has won every race she has started since May 2014 for 12 consecutive wins on the WTS circuit. In 2015 Jorgensen became the first triathlete —man or woman—to complete an undefeated season.
Alysia Montaño: A middle distance runner and seven-time U.S. outdoor national champion. She has represented the United States at numerous international championships including the London 2012 Olympic Games. She distinguishes herself by wearing a flower in her hair while running, a personal affectation she adopted to celebrate her femininity while training.
Lex Gillette: One of the top visually-impaired long jumpers in the world, winning the silver medal at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games. He is the current world record holder in the F11 men’s long jump and is the only completely blind athlete in the world to eclipse the 22-foot barrier in the long jump.
Cortney Jordan: A two-time U.S. Paralympic swimmer with medals from both the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games. Jordan won eight Paralympic medals in her classification: one gold medal (50 meter freestyle), five silver medals (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle-twice, 400m freestyle-twice) and two bronze medals (100m backstroke, 200m individual medley).
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
