The medal hopes of New Zealand's top track and field athletes have received a boost, with the announcement of a new partnership between Athletics New Zealand and the worlds leading high-performance sportswear brand, 2XU.
On the eve of the nations best athletes stepping out at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham (England) and next months Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast (Australia), Athletics New Zealand has inked a four-year deal with 2XU that will see its national teams compete and recover in 2XU apparel through to 2021.
The agreement will see 2XU outfit the New Zealand national teams for major international events including the 2019 IAAF World Championships and 2020 Olympic Games, in addition to this years IAAF World Indoor Championships and Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand athletes, including defending world indoor champion Tom Walsh, will debut the 2XU kit in Birmingham this weekend, with 20 of the nations top athletes to don 2XU teamwear when they face up to the best of the Commonwealth on the Gold Coast next month.
Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Hamish Grey said the partnership was a coup for the organisation, and would give the nations leading track and field athletes an edge over the competition.
"Were thrilled to partner with 2XU to help our athletes perform and recover at their peak," Grey said.
"2XU is the undisputed world leader at developing compression and high-performance sportswear, and we want our athletes wearing the very best. 2XU compression is proven to enhance athletes training, performance and recovery and at the elite level, even the smallest gain can mean the difference between winning a medal and not. Were excited to see what our athletes can achieve with the support of 2XU, and to develop specific promotions to benefit all our members."
2XU Co-founder and Director of Product Development Jamie Hunt said it was a privilege to be named the official apparel and compression partner of Athletics New Zealand.
"At 2XU our mission is to multiply human performance, and were excited to partner with Athletics New Zealand to continue our commitment to help elite and everyday athletes achieve their best," Hunt said.
"2XU is proud to develop the most technically advanced sports apparel and compression in the world, and we look forward to being part of the New Zealand athletics teams future success."
Founded in Australia in 2005 by New Zealander and former professional triathlete Hunt, fellow New Zealander Aidan Clarke and Australian businessman Clyde Davenport, 2XU is the global leader in high-performance sports apparel and sports compression.
2XU compression is designed and tested in consultation with sports scientists and industry experts, and is backed by almost a decade of independent, scientific research by the Australian Institute of Sport and other world-leading research teams. 2XU compression delivers benefits including improved blood flow, reduced muscle soreness and accelerated recovery to help athletes of all abilities reach their peak.
Athletics New Zealand joins a formidable list of world leading athletes, sports teams and organisations in partnership with 2XU.
- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand