Talking about sponsorships

Oftentimes,  my friends and fellow athletes ask me how to get sponsorships from sports companies.

First and foremost, for professional athletes and for competitive amateurs alike, being sponsored is not about YOU!

A sponsorship is a partnership, a long-term relationship between the athlete and the company. It is a give and take relationship with mutual benefits. The athlete gets product and support (and rarely a stipend if the athlete is at a world-class level) and the company gets publicity with the hopes to increase their profits and sales.

You gotta LOVE the companies you are looking to get sponsored from. If you are not using their products, if you do not like the quality, if you are not agreeing with the goals and overall mantra of the company then do not attempt to form a partnership because you are not the right representative for them.

A sponsored athlete should act as an ambassador with passion and credibility: representing, supporting, and advertising along with the company's character and target audience. Nothing is free in this world and if you love a company and are willing to be part of their team then you have to give back, you have to spread the word, you have to support them the same way they support you.



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