Sperry back Olympians

Sportswear and footwear brand support sailors from the US, UK, France and Croatia

Sperry Top-Sider have announced a major sponsorship agreement with 30 of the most successful and internationally renowned athletes from the world of Olympic sailing to form Team Sperry, a group of leading sailors from Croatia, France, Great Britain and the United States.

Already a committed supporter of sailing in the United States with its official footwear sponsorship of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup and numerous grassroots events, Sperry said the announcement today continues the brand's major sports marketing initiative that now is going global. The brand said it will soon announce further plans to support additional international athletes and teams and world-class sailing events aligned with the global expansion efforts of the Sperry Top-Sider performance and lifestyle brand.

Team Sperry represents world-class racers including the current top three ISAF ranked teams in Women's Match Racing and three of the top four Finn Sailors, two 2008 Olympic medalists and a host of Gold, Silver and Bronze World Champion medalists. The Team Sperry athletes were introduced at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth last week.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with these world-class athletes and are looking forward to helping the members of Team Sperry achieve their dreams of reaching the podium in Weymouth in 2012," said Craig Reingold, President, Sperry Top-Sider, LLC. "As the inventor of the world’s first performance boat shoe, our heritage has always focused on technology and innovation and our commitment today maintains that focus as we continue to push ourselves to create the world’s greatest sailing footwear products. The expertise of the Team Sperry sailors and their collaboration with our product development organization will assist us and, over time, benefit all sailors looking for the most technically advanced footwear to elevate and enhance their performance."

Since its founder, Paul Sperry, invented the world’s first boat shoe in 1935, Sperry Top-Sider has remained true to its rich history of innovation and performance. Decades later, Sperry Top-Sider has expanded beyond its sailing roots with best-in-class technologies for boating, fishing and multi-water sport footwear, as well as a range of lifestyle products dedicated to those with A Passion for the Sea and the good life in, on and around the water.

Sailors:

Croatia - Ivan Gaspic, Finn

France - Claire Leroy, Women's Match Racing

USA
Alana O’Reilly, Women's Match Racing
Andrew Campbell, Star
Anna Tunnicliffe, Women's Match Racing
Brad Nichol, Star
Debbie Capozzi, Women's Match Racing
Elizabeth Kratzig, Women's Match Racing
Erik Storck, 49er
Graham Biehl, 470
Ian Coleman, Star
Molly Vandermoer, Women's Match Racing
Paige Railey, Laser Radial
Sally Barkow, Women's Match Racing
Stuart McNay, 470
Trevor Moore, 49er
Zach Railey, Finn

UK
Lucy Macgregor, Women's Match Racing
Kate Macgregor, Women's Match Racing
Annie Lush, Women's Match Racing
Hannah Mills, 470
Giles Scott, Finn
Luke Patience, 470
Paul Goodison, Laser
Saskia Clark, 470
Stuart Bithell, 470