USA Triathlon has announced a new partnership with brand marketing consultant and author Jeremy Darlow. This aims to help USA Triathlon elite athletes develop and grow their personal brands.
The organization is the first in the US Olympic and Paralympic Movement to partner with Darlow, who has extensive experience working with collegiate and professional teams and athletes as well as celebrities. The program is available to all athletes who hold a USA Triathlon elite license.
The partnership is part of USA Triathlon’s newly launched Transition 3 elite athlete career, education and wellness program. This offers resources to guide elite triathletes and paratriathletes in their current athletic careers and as they prepare to transition to the next phase of their professional lives.
Darlow, the best-selling author of ‘Brands Win Championships’ and ‘Athletes are Brands Too’, will provide US elite triathletes with access to The Darlow Rules — an online course featuring short, video-based lessons that ‘present the fundamentals of brand development and communication for athletes.’
“The USA Triathlon team is setting the standard in athlete brand development with their Transition 3 program,” Jeremy Darlow said. “I’m honoured to be part of their efforts to prepare their athletes for life after sports.
“Together we will teach these young men and women how to build plans and personal brands that put them on a path to land their dream jobs and careers.”
Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO, said “Regardless of an athlete’s goals within and outside of sport, it can be difficult to work on building a brand while focusing on training and competition.
“But an athlete’s brand is important for a variety of reasons – from earning sponsor support and media coverage, to creating a platform to make a difference and influence others. USA Triathlon is proud to provide The Darlow Rules as part of our Transition 3 professional development services, so US elite triathletes can learn to market themselves successfully and sustainably both during and beyond their triathlon careers.”
‘The Darlow Rules will teach athletes how to recognize and grow their influence, target and identify their potential audience and develop strong communication platforms. Through the lessons and services provided by Darlow, athletes will learn how to use their athletic influence to help create a successful professional life that reaches beyond sports.’
By the end of the course, students will have built their own brand marketing plan, employing the same planning techniques used by Darlow over the course of his extensive career in sports marketing. Additionally, each graduating student will receive a certificate of completion to include on their professional resume.
Darlow has worked with major universities such as the University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan and the University of California, Los Angeles; professional athletes including Aaron Rodgers, Kris Bryant and Lionel Messi; and celebrities including Kanye West and Snoop Dogg. He helps college athletic programs, coaches and athletes build and elevate their brands to elite levels.
In addition to its partnership with Jeremy Darlow, USA Triathlon’s Transition 3 elite athlete career, education and wellness program also includes:
- Mentorship services;
- A variety of internship opportunities with USA Triathlon;
- An online professional development curriculum; and
- Education benefits such as scholarship opportunities and tuition discounts.
Transition 3 also includes mental health support through Talkspace, the leading online therapy provider, through the end of 2020.
www.usatriathlon.org
www.thedarlowrules.com
