Bernard Signs Up For Arena
Craig Lord
Nov 20, 2008
2009 Best Performances
200 METRES FREESTYLE
| # | Country | Time | Name | IPS | Meet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | ITA | 1:51.85 | Pellegrini, Federica | 1019 | EURSCDEC |
| 2 |  | FRA | 1:53.18 | Balmy, Coralie | 1002 | FRASCDEC |
| 3 |  | JPN | 1:53.72 | Ueda, Haruka | 995 | JPOPNFEB |
| 4 |  | NED | 1:53.79 | Heemskerk, Femke | 994 | EURSCDEC |
| 5 |  | RUS | 1:53.85 | Belyakina, Daria | 994 | EURSCDEC |
The latest swimmer to 'defect' from the suit they wore on the way to glory at the Olympic Games in Beijing is the French Olympic champion in the 100m freestyle
Alain Bernard set his world records and won his Olympic crown in a Speedo LZR. The advantages were overwhelming, in mind and on clock. Now that Arena believes it has the technological answer, the Frenchman has jumped ships and today signs a deal with the Italian suit maker to sit in the same suit team as Cesar Cielo, Milorad Cavic and Laszlo Cseh and the Russian national team, among others.
Bernard is signed up to Speedo until the end of the year. He will then appear in Arena. The deal will be announced today in Antibes, where Bernard is based with coach Denis Auguin.
From January 2009, and for the coming four years leading up to the next Olympics in London, Arena will be the main technical sponsor of Alain Bernard (25), Olympic Gold Medal and European Champion in the 100m freestyle, Olympic Silver Medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay as well as Olympic Bronze Medal and European Champion in the 50m freestyle.
“Alain is widely recognised as a real icon for swimming, and not only in France, says Nicolas Preault, General Manager of Arena France, his outstanding victory in the 100m freestyle at the recent Olympic Games, along with the incredible path of victories and records he achieved during the last 12 months have made him a true global character for our sport. We believe that Alain is perfectly embodying the key principles which are in Arena’s DNA: passion, commitment, spirit of sacrifice and an incredibly strong will: for Arena, it is a honour and a privilege that Alain has taken the decision to associate with our brand for the next four years”.
“I’m really happy about this agreement with Arena – says Alain Bernard - I am confident that this is the best choice for me at this moment of my career. It is such a good feeling to know that from now on there will be a full team of people working with me and around me at any time during the year, I clearly sense that I am becoming part of a whole project, in which I will have an active role, and this is one of the main driving factors behind my decision”.
The French champion also stated that he is just about to start “two weeks of hard work, as a part of the preparation for the French Championships (December 5-7, Angers)”. As far as the European short course Championships in Rijeka are concerned, Alain’s objectives are “the same as always, to be at his best and definitely out to win”. Then it will be time to think about the 2009 World Championships in Rome: in February Alain will be with his team for a specific training camp in Fort Lauderdale – Florida.
With the other members of the Arena Elite Team (just to recall a few of them: Cesar Cielo, Milorad Cavic, Laszlo Cseh, Alexander Dale Oen, Roland Schoeman, Massimiliano Rosolino, Alessia Filippi, Otylia Jedreczak, and many others), Alain Bernard will be called upon to take a key role in Research and Development activities, working in close contact with the Company’s development specialists to test and fine-tune the new hi-tech products designed for use in races.
