Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles leaves Nike for female focused company Athleta.
The relationship, which was announced this morning, is a major achievement for the smaller, women's activewear brand, which was founded in 1998 and is owned by Gap Inc . It comes after Athleta signed a partnership in 2019 with sprinting champion Allyson Felix, a former Nike athlete who had criticized the company for failing to support pregnant athletes. It also comes days after Nike's partnership expired with the estate of basketball player Kobe Bryant.
Biles on what attracted her to the brand:
"I felt like it wasn't just about my achievements, it's what I stood for and how they were going to help me use my voice and also be a voice for females and kids," she said. "I feel like they also support me, not just as an athlete, but just as an individual outside of the gym and the change that I want to create, which is so refreshing."
The gymnast will have her own performance wear line and activist platform at the female-focused apparel company.
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