Zhik announced as Official Supplier to the Australian Olympic Team
by Liz Rushall, Zhik 29 Jun 2021 22:22 NZST
Zhik CEO Piet Poelmann and Matt Carroll CEO Australian Olympic Committee © Beau Outteridge
Global technical sailing and watersports apparel brand Zhik has been appointed as an Official Supplier to the Australian Olympic Team. The announcement follows the company's recent appointment as an Official Apparel Partner of Australian Sailing for the third consecutive Olympiad.
From its founding in 2003, Zhik has worked closely with aspiring Olympic sailors to design the best technical apparel possible. This has led to official supplier associations with the Australian, Danish, British, Singapore and New Zealand Sailing Teams as well as with numerous medal-winning team sailors including Australia's Tom Slingsby, Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen, Matt Belcher and Will Ryan and Tom Burton.
AOC CEO Matt Carroll welcomed Zhik's commitment to support Australian Olympic athletes.
"We welcome Zhik to our prestigious line up of Team Partners and Official Suppliers," Mr Carroll said.
"Zhik's consistent support of young athletes, from grassroots through to world class level, helps them get the most out of their performance."
"Zhik is a dynamic, Australian-grown brand at the forefront of performance watersports apparel and the AOC is thrilled Zhik's innovative designs will be a positive force for our Sailing Team at Tokyo 2020."
Zhik CEO Piet Poelmann said the company was very pleased to become an official supplier after its long history with Australian Olympic sailors.
"We are delighted to be recognised as an Official Supplier to the Australian Olympic Team. The soul of our business is a ground up approach to pushing the boundaries with garment technology in a similar way that top athletes are always seeking new ways to achieve their personal best."
"We work closely with them listening and learning as we test our proprietary materials and designs to create cutting edge, high performance gear to positively enhance the athletes' performance."
Zhik will provide the Australian Sailing Team with apparel including high performance, lightweight wetsuits and technical equipment (as appropriate for the sailor and boat) and will work closely with the athletes to develop the best products to assist in their quest to win medals in Tokyo.
Tokyo 2020 Laser sailor Matt Wearn provided input in the development of the new Zhik Microfleece Hikers and said he loved the design.
"They are versatile enough to sail in any condition which makes them a great all rounder."
"It's been great working with the Zhik team who are so invested in making the best on water clothing."
In addition to Olympic sailing, Zhik's technical apparel range has grown to cater for high end yachting, performance watersports as well as cross-over leisure and lifestyle clothing.
www.zhik.com
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Australian Olympic Sailing Team athlete information
Matt Wearn
- Sails the Laser class (single handed dinghy)
- Olympic debut in Tokyo
- 2020 and 2019 - 2nd place at Laser Men's World Championship
- 2018 Australian Male Sailor Of The Year
- 2018/19 Laser European Champion
- 4x Laser National Champion
- Matt Wearn more info
Will Ryan and Mathew Belcher
- Sail in the Mens 470 class (two person dinghy)
- Mathew and Will claimed Silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics
- Mathew also claimed gold at the 2012 London Olympics in the 470 class with previous team member Malcolm Page
- Mathew and Will are multiple world champions in the 470 class.
- five times for Will
- eight times for Mathew
- Will Ryan more info
- Mathew Belcher more info
Jake Lilley
- Sails in the Finn class (Single person dinghy)
- Olympic debut in Rio 2016 where he finished 8th
- Sailed for Artemis Racing in the 2016 Americas Cup
- Jake Lilley More info
Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin
- Sail in the mixed Foiling Nacra 17 class (two-person catamaran)
- Jason and Lisa claimed silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics
- Won gold at the ISAF Youth Worlds in 2009
- Four podium places at Nacra 17 World Championships (2nd in 2015, 3rd in 2020, 2019 and 2014)
- Jason Waterhouse more info
- Lisa Darmanin more info
Mara Stransky
- Sail in the Laser Radial class (single handed dinghy)
- Olympic debut in Tokyo
- First solo international competition was the Laser Radial Youth Worlds in 2016
- Podium finish at the 2017 Laser Radial Worlds at the age of 18
- Mara Stransky more info
Tess Lloyd and Jaime Ryan
- Sail in the 49erFX class (Womens two person skiff)
- Jaime's Olympic debut was at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the Womens 470 Class
- Tess will make her Olympic debut in Tokyo
- Tess sustained a major head injury during the 2012 Australian Youth Championships in Brisbane. After 10 months of rehabilitation Tess was back out on the water and working towards qualifying for the Olympics.
- Tess Lloyd more info
- Jaime Ryan more info
Monique de Vries and Nia Jerwood
- Sail in the womens 470 class (Womens two person dinghy)
- Monique and Nia will have their Olympic debut in Tokyo
- In 2019 they finished ninth overall at the 470 World Championships, qualifying Australia a spot at Tokyo
- 2018 Nia won gold at the 420 World Chamionships
- Nia Jerwood more info
- Monique de Vries more info
Will Phillips and Sam Phillips
- Sail in the 49er Class (mens two person skiff)
- Olympic debut in Tokyo
- Brothers who have been sailing from a young age
- Placed 5th at the 2020 49er World Championships.