24 Hour Fitness Announces Partnership with Six U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hopefuls for 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver
24 Hour Fitness, the largest privately-owned U.S. fitness chain and the Official Fitness Center Sponsor of the 2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, today announced its partnership with six U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls for the 2010 Games: snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, pairs skater Rockne Brubaker, short track speedskater J.R. Celski, Paralympic skier Chris Devlin-Young, speedskater Tucker Fredricks and skier Julia Mancuso. The athletes have joined Team 24 Hour Fitness as they strive toward making the 2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team and medaling this winter at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. As members of Team 24 Hour Fitness, these athletes will appear in the brand`s Olympic marketing campaign, make promotional appearances at local clubs, and develop signature workouts for members that will be available in-club and online at www.24hourfitness.com and on the company`s YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/24hourfitnessinc. "24 Hour Fitness is proud to continue its support of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams and to help these athletes in their pursuit of capturing gold in Vancouver," said Carl Liebert, chief executive officer, 24 Hour Fitness. "These athletes are terrific ambassadors for promoting fitness and their exclusive signature workouts can help guide all of our members no matter what their fitness goals, whether it is to run a 5k or win a gold medal at the Olympics." Since it was founded in 1983, 24 Hour Fitness has supported many elite athletes across a multitude of sports and is proud to add the following six athletes to Team 24 Hour Fitness. For more information on each athlete visit www.24hourfitness.com/goteamusa: Gretchen Bleiler (halfpipe snowboarding) - 2006 Olympic silver medalist in women`s halfpipe, member of 2006 U.S. Olympic Team, three-time X Games gold medalist Rockne Brubaker (pairs figure skating) - reigning U.S. National Champion in pairs figure skating J.R. Celski (short track speedskating) - five-time medalist at 2009 World Championships - gold (5000m relay, 3000m), silver (overall), bronze (1000m, 1500m); nominated to the U.S. Olympic Committee for inclusion to the 2010 Olympic Team Chris Devlin-Young (Paralympic alpine skiing) - four-time medalist (two gold, two silver) in Paralympic alpine skiing, member of the 1994, 2002, and 2006 U.S. Paralympic Teams Tucker Fredricks (speedskating) - member of 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Julia Mancuso (alpine skiing) - 2006 Olympic gold medalist in giant slalom, member of the 2002 U.S. Olympic Team, and reigning Giant Slalom and Combined National Champion As part of its partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), which launched in 2003, 24 Hour Fitness offers eligible U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls free and reduced rate club memberships to support them as they train in their hometowns. Additionally, 24 Hour Fitness is proud to support the U.S. Olympic Movement by sponsoring US Speedskating. As part of its sponsorship, 24 Hour Fitness has been named the official health and fitness club of the national governing body and has use of US Speedskating trademarks and images, onsite signage at select events, US Speedskating website presence, and athlete appearances. Through its support of the USOC and National Governing Bodies, 24 Hour Fitness is one of the largest supporters of amateur athletics in the country. As the Official Fitness Center Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, 24 Hour Fitness is also helping the athletes train for the Vancouver Games by providing state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to U.S. Olympic Training Centers in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Chula Vista, Calif.; and Lake Placid, N.Y. Furthermore, the company has supported the USOC`s efforts in providing specialized training to the USOC Paralympic Military Sports Camp in San Diego. 24 Hour Fitness continues to work closely with the USOC Sport Performance team and is currently making enhancements to the U.S. Olympic Training Centers and other U.S. Olympic training sites to help the team optimize its performance in Vancouver. "I`m proud to once again be a member of Team 24 Hour Fitness," said Bleiler. "Training plays such an integral role in any athlete`s success. 24 Hour Fitness ensures that my teammates and I perform at our very best by outfitting the Olympic Training Centers with state-of-the-art equipment and providing access to all of their clubs so we can train no matter where our competitions take us." This will be the fourth Olympic Games for which 24 Hour Fitness has supported America`s Olympic Team, having previously partnered with the USOC for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. About 24 Hour Fitness Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., 24 Hour Fitness, an innovative leader in the health and fitness industry, serves more than three million members in more than 400 clubs. Founded in 1983 as a one-club operation, 24 Hour Fitness pioneered the concept of making fitness accessible, affordable and a way of life for everyone. The company demonstrates its leadership through sponsorships like that of the U.S. Olympic Team and a commitment to the community through various charitable and in-kind donations. In addition, 24 Hour Fitness enjoys strategic partnerships with major consumer brands like Coca-Cola, Dial and Everlast and for the past eight seasons has partnered with NBC`s popular reality TV show, "The Biggest Loser." Please call 1-800-224-0240 or visit www.24HourFitness.com for more information and to find the location nearest you. U.S. Olympic Committee The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. For more information, please visit www.teamusa.org. 24 Hour Fitness Wendy Yellin, 925-543-3184 wyellin@24hourfit.com or Edelman Sports Heather Ferraiuolo, 212-704-8203 heather.ferraiuolo@edelman.com or United States Olympic Committee Nicole Saunches, 719-866-2236 Nicole.saunches@usoc.org
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Posted on: November 4, 2009