April 17, 2007

Gary Hall Jr. Signs With Speedo Through 2010

Posted by Scott

Los Angeles - Speedo® announced today the signing of 32-year-old Gary Hall, Jr. to a multi-year contract through 2010. A ten-time Olympic medalist, Hall represented the United States in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and is projected to be a serious medal contender at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in his specialty, the 50m freestyle, if he can make the US team.

Now an “elder statesman” on the U.S. team, Hall will compete for the US in the 50 free and the 4×100 free relay at the 2007 Pan American Games, July 13-29, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The agreement with Speedo recognizes Hall’s impact beyond this season as a U.S. National Team member and his expected Olympic return in Beijing. Prior to Beijing, Gary will work with Speedo Aqualab to lend his input to the research and development process of upcoming projects. Following the 2008 Games, Speedo will involve Hall in the brand’s mission to promote Masters Swimming. The brand will also partner with Hall on his many philanthropic efforts.

“I am very excited to join Team Speedo,” said Hall. “Speedo is the top name in swimwear both in the pool and out. I look forward to working with the brand as I continue my career in the water and also as a partner in numerous charitable efforts.”

Diagnosed with diabetes in 1999, Hall is a celebrity advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and a partner in their mission to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Speedo will support Hall’s efforts to combat juvenile diabetes by donating an additional 10% of all Speedo performance bonuses he earns to the Gary Hall, Jr. Foundation for Diabetes. The foundation works to provide testing equipment for underprivileged families affected by diabetes and to find a cure for the disease by supporting organizations such as the Diabetes Research Institute, of which Hall is a regional board member.

After swimming collegiately at the University of Texas, Hall Jr. began training with now longtime coach Mike Bottom in 1995. He won four medals at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics – two gold’s (400 free relay and 400 medley relay) and two silver’s (50 free and 100 free) in Atlanta, and two gold’s (50 free and 400 medley relay), a silver (400 free relay) and a bronze (100 free) in Sydney. With his gold medal finish in the 50 free at the 2004 Athens Olympics, at age 29 Hall Jr. became both the oldest U.S. male in 80 years to win gold and the first American to defend his 50m free title.

The Miami Beach native began his swim career with the Phoenix Swim Club, built by his father, All-American swimmer and three-time Olympian Gary Hall, Sr., who competed on the U.S. team at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Games. At the ’76 Montreal Olympics, Hall Sr. was honored as the U.S. flag bearer at Opening Ceremonies. Gary Jr. and Gary Sr. are the only father/son duo in the history of the Olympics to each compete in three Olympic Games.