The US Speedskating governing body has agreed an eight-year extension to its partnership with sportswear company Under Armour, despite the criticism of the US team’s race suits at the Sochi winter Olympic Games.
Heading into Sochi 2014, US Speedskating had won 85 Olympic medals, making it the most successful winter sport in the country. However, the 2014 Games produced just a solitary silver medal for the US in the short track discipline. With no medals in the first half of Olympic competition, US Speedskating elected to revert from their new hi-tech Under Armour suit to those worn during earlier World Cup events.
Under the terms of the new deal, which replaces the previous agreement which was due to expire this year, Under Armour will remain as the national team’s exclusive competition suit provider through December 31, 2022. The US firm has partnered with the governing body since 2011 and will also continue to supply all athletes with its most technologically-advanced training apparel, footwear and performance monitoring systems.
"It's time for everyone to move on," Under Armour chief executive Kevin Plank told ESPN.com. "Forget about 'Suitgate,' all the conjecture, the thoughts and the theories, and let's get back to reality. We're Americans, and although we got knocked down, we're going to write a new storyline in four years. Because who loves a comeback more than our country?"