Simone Biles is leaving Nike partnership to join Gap’s Athleta

Simone Biles is leaving Nike for Gap’s Athleta brand, where she will have her own performance line. As per they, she will have apparel that can be worn to and from the gym. Athleta likewise said they will be giving the superstar Olympian a platform to be a activist for women and female athletes, something Biles says is imperative to her.

Biles had been with Nike since 2015. Around there, the 24 year old has reliably been quite possibly the most the dominant gymnasts in the game and has the most World Championship gold medals by a female acrobat.

“Using my voice has been very empowering for me and I am grateful to embark on this new journey with Athleta to inspire young girls and women to do the same,” Biles said. “I admire Athleta for their commitment to recognize and support women’s individual and collective strength.”

Biles isn’t the first high-profile athlete to leave Nike for Athleta. Individual Olympian Allyson Felix additionally left Nike to join Gap’s Athleta brand in July of 2019.

Gap was able to poach Felix by giving her more of a voice than she had when she originally joined Nike. Hole likewise said their plan was to “flip this sponsorship model on its head” and give athletes more creative freedom. Felix has been making contributions to the plan of lines, working away at her own line of running clothes.

Obviously, Felix’s work with Athleta in the past two years had an impact on Biles. The two competitors are wanting to address the United States at the impending Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Biles leaving is the second big hit Nike has taken in April. Prior in the month, Kobe Bryant’s better half Vanessa reported that her late husband’s estate failed to go to a concession on a new deal with the organization.