Shipley-based SportsShoes.com and Nike collaborate on first joint global athlete sponsorship deal

Shipley-based online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer SportsShoes.com has partnered with Nike on a joint two-year sponsorship deal for New Zealand professional triathlete Hayden Wilde.
Michael Crossland
By Michael Crossland

Business reporter

Published 27th Mar 2023, 16:45 BST

The deal represents the first time Nike has worked with a partner for its global athlete sponsorship programme and includes supporting Wilde for his appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Gavin Bannister, brand manager at SportsShoes.com said: “This is a hugely significant step not just for Hayden, but for all elite athletes as organisations consider how to develop sponsorship strategies. By collaborating with Nike in this first-of-its-kind deal, we are setting new standards for organisations to explore how they can leverage the power of partnerships to support athletes develop their careers.

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“Hayden is an impressive triathlete. It’s our ambition that he is the first of many to graduate from our Athlete in Residence programme and secure collaborative deals with some of the world’s leading sports brands.”

New sponsorship - SportsShoes.com and Nike have partnered on the first joint athlete sponsorship deal for professional triathlete Hayden Wilde (pictured).New sponsorship - SportsShoes.com and Nike have partnered on the first joint athlete sponsorship deal for professional triathlete Hayden Wilde (pictured).
New sponsorship - SportsShoes.com and Nike have partnered on the first joint athlete sponsorship deal for professional triathlete Hayden Wilde (pictured).

Last year, SportsShoes.com announced a new retail partnership with running events series and community RunThrough. The company also became official shoes partner for governing body England Athletics.

Mr Wilde won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and silver in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games for New Zealand.

He said: “I’m absolutely stoked to turn my love of Nike and SportsShoes.com into a formal partnership. SportsShoes.com has always been the real deal with their support of me in the early years.”

Related topics:NikeNew ZealandEnglandAthletics