by Larry Eder
Leo Manzano, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist at 1,500 meters, had the highest finish by an American male in an Olympic 1,500 meters since Jim Ryun in 1968. HOKA ONE ONE has announced that they have signed Mr. Manzano to a multi-year contract! Leo Manzano will be assisting HOKA ONE ONE in the development of their first racing flat and track spike.
Olympic Silver Medalist Leo Manzano Signs with HOKA ONE ONE®
U.S. 1500-meter star will showcase revolutionary running brand
Leo Manzano, photo courtesy of HOKA ONE ONE
Richmond, CA (April 10, 2014) HOKA ONE ONE® is proud to announce the signing of 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano, who specializes in the 1500-meter and mile distances, to a multi-year agreement.
Manzano, 29, was a five-time NCAA Champion at the University of Texas, and has been ranked among the top three milers in the U.S. for the past seven years. A model of consistency, he has made every U.S. Olympic and World Championships team since 2007. Known for his signature kick, Manzano was in sixth place coming off the final turn at the London Olympics before storming up the homestretch to earn a silver medal–the first Olympic medal of any kind for the U.S. at 1500 meters since Jim Ryun in 1968.
As part of his new relationship with HOKA ONE ONE, a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ: DECK), Manzano will play a key role in the company’s development of its first racing flats and spikes.
“I’m honored to represent HOKA ONE ONE. I feel blessed to have connected with such a game-changing and innovative company that is led by runners who understand the needs of runners,” said Manzano. “I hope to leverage this opportunity to showcase how HOKA’s brilliantly engineered products benefit runners of all distances.”
“Adding Leo to the HOKA family elevates our brand visibility and is a testament to the momentum we are gaining in the highly competitive running industry,” said Jim Van Dine, HOKA ONE ONE Brand President. “Leo is not only an Olympian and track-and-field all-star, he’s also a person with great integrity and character. We look forward to closely collaborating with Leo on product development–specifically racing spikes and flats.”
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Leo Manzano, courtesy of HOKA ONE ONE
Until now known primarily for its remarkable success in ultra-marathon and trail-running communities with its revolutionary oversized cushioned shoes, HOKA ONE ONE recently received the 2014 Competitor Magazine Fit, Feel, Ride Award for Best Innovation for its newest shoe, the Conquest for men and women, designed for runners of all distances.
Manzano’s relationship with HOKA was negotiated and will be managed by Hawi Keflezighi of HAWI Management.
About HOKA ONE ONE
HOKA ONE ONE was founded in 2009 by Jean-Luc Diard and Nicolas Mermoud and was created to design shoes that offer improved performance, primarily for ultrarunners. Deckers Outdoor Corp. acquired the brand in late 2012 and is investing to broaden the product line to service all runners. Due to HOKA ONE ONE’s unique ability to provide cushioning while still offering stability, runners of all types may greatly benefit from its products. For more information, please visit www.hokaoneone.com.
About Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Deckers Outdoor Corporation is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company’s portfolio of brands includes UGG® Australia, Teva®, Sanuk®, TSUBO®, Ahnu®, MOZO®, and HOKA ONE ONE®. Deckers Outdoor products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, 117 Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Outdoor has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com.
