Olympic 800-meter champion Keely Hodgkinson will not be able to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in her striking all-black Nike catsuit because of Team GB’s sponsorship rules.
The 24-year-old athlete first unveiled the unusual outfit at the Athlos event in London last week. The skin-tight suit, which is pulled on over the head and covers almost the entire body — from the palms to the ankles — while leaving most of the back exposed, immediately caught the public’s attention.
And it appears to have brought Hodgkinson good luck. She comfortably won the 800-meter race, crossing the finish line in 1 minute 56.40 seconds. The victory earned her £50,000 in prize money.
The unique outfit, known as the Zero-Distraction Speed Suit, was specially designed by Nike for Hodgkinson. Its design appears to have been inspired by the iconic suit worn by Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
However, it has now emerged that unless Nike’s main rival, Adidas, creates a similar version specifically for Hodgkinson ahead of the Games in the United States, the British athlete will not be able to defend her Olympic title in the eye-catching suit.
The reason is Team GB’s long-standing partnership with German sportswear giant Adidas, which dates back to the previous Los Angeles Olympics, held 42 years ago.
British athletes are required to compete at the Olympic Games in official Team GB kit designed by Adidas. The exception is so-called “technical” equipment, such as running spikes.
As a result, even if Nike releases the skin-tight Zero-Distraction Speed Suit for other athletes and World Athletics approves it for use at the Olympics, Hodgkinson could find herself in a rather bizarre situation. She may have to watch her rivals take to the track in the striking black catsuit she effectively helped bring back into fashion, while being unable to compete in it herself.
Team GB and Adidas are expected to continue their partnership for the 2028 Olympic Games.
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