It’s not even just Nico though. He also coaches Grijalva and he’s a Hoka athlete.
Grijalva Singh with Hoka right before the Rio Games. Pro contracts are 4 years and he will sing with Nike on a few months. The problem with Nico Young is he just singed a minimum 4 year deal that will go to after the Los Angeles games in 28. This will be a problem for everyone involved
It’s very strange and odd. For Nike to announce they will be starting a group a year from now and Mike Smith is the head coach for Nike yet coaching other athletes from different companies. WTF is Nike thinking. I have a feeling this won’t actually go through or things will be different then we are being led to believe. This is the biggest half ass situation I’ve seen in the running world in a long time.
I agree . What a stupid an announcement to make a year ahead of time. This is bound to unravel to some extent
I’ve never heard of a group that announces a year early as the coach finishes his college obligations. Either Nike is stupid or Mike Smith suckered them. This will not pan out well.
I’m the CEO of Nike but I’m going to guide Adidas employees to have success for their company.
Yeah this is a good situation for sure 😂
Let's keep in mind what success looks like for an American, no matter what when the cross the line at worlds/olympics, they are wearing the swoosh. Sure nico isn't wearing the shoes, but is Nike really going to be that mad if Nico wins a medal in a nike uniform, stands on the podium in a nike outfit while training in a Nike group? Look at Nuguse on the podium, he wore a Nike jacket. Nike benefits from Americans doing well even when the don't sponsor. Nike agreed because they benefit no matter what, addias is screwed, and they have to make a desicion.
Do they force Nico to switch??? It seems like they wouldn't want to risk moving Nico to a new coach since he made the olympics with Smith. It would be an embarrassment and a news story if they made Nico switch coaches, and their most marketable distance runner misses the LA games under a new coach.
I would think Nike would have an even bigger issue with this than Adidas. They are gonna shell out all this money to Mike Smith and build this pro group, just to train an Adidas athlete to beat their Nike sponsored athletes? Most of these guys represent the US and there are only 3 spots on each team so this is a zero-sum game, the better Nico does the worse it is for Nike athletes. The whole thing makes no sense from anyone involved.
It would be an embarrassment and a news story if they made Nico switch coaches, and their most marketable distance runner misses the LA games under a new coach.
You think that would be worse than having him continue to train under a coach that is getting paid to train N|ke athletes to grab the podium spots, thus missing the LA games under his current coach??
Why is this thread getting deleted ? Rojo and Wejo please explain ?!?!
It’s a honest question and seems like a very strange set up. I’m very curious
Nike will buy out his contract just like they did with Mo Farah.
Nike didn’t buy out MO’s contract. His Adidas contract was over and then Nike came in. Nico has a Adidas and will be running did Adidas at least until 2028 Olympics