by Alfonz Juck
Jos Hermans with NN Running Team, photo courtesy of NN Running TeamFirst year of NN Running Team
ROTTERDAM (NED): Thursday April 6 marked one year since NN Group and Global Sports Communication introduced the NN Running Team: the first professional running team in the world. The team has achieved 52 victories, including three World Marathon Major victories and two world titles. Within the first year, the team’s professional guidance is improved through investments in, for example, physiotherapy. The team has a large online fan base that follows the athletes on social media, and fans can now better understand what it takes to be a world class marathon athlete. To mark the first year of the NN Running Team, NN Group and Global Sports Communication published a yearbook and organised a special function. “A year ago, my dream to start the first professional running team came true. I could not have predicted the impact this would have on our athletes and the world of athletics one year later. Our athletes are very committed to the team: they are excited to share their experiences and to help each other get to the next level. We created a new standard with the team and I am looking forward to continuing this journey to improve our great sport,” said Jos Hermens, director of GSC. Belgian runner Bashir Abdi was introduced as the newest member of the NN Running Team just before his marathon debut in Rotterdam on Sunday.
