Arena Signs Olympian Julia Smit

CARLSBAD, California, September 22. ARENA Swimwear, one of the leading performance waterwear companies in the world, today announced it has signed Olympian and national champion Julia Smit to wear the company's racing swimwear and athletic apparel.

Smit, 22, holds the world records in both the 200 and 400 Individual Medley (IM) and is regarded as one of the most dominant short course IM competitors in recent years. She enjoyed an illustrious collegiate career at the Stanford University where she was a 26-time All-American, six-time NCAA champion and 10-time Pac-10 champion.

"It's not often that the swim world is blessed with someone of Julia's caliber and we are very excited to see her compete in Area racing swimwear in the coming years," said Bryan Smeltzer vice president of marketing, Arena USA. "Julia is a tremendous young talent that has a knack for dominating at every level in which she competes. We believe that the performance behind Arena's industry leading Powerskin racing suits will power her to more victories."

Smit's international prominence began in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics where she earned two medals: a silver for the 400 freestyle relay and a bronze for the 800 freestyle relay. Following her maiden experience in the Olympics, Smit began her record-setting crusade breaking the 400m short course IM record.

She successfully defended her 400 IM title in American-record time. She also added a 200 IM championship and again established a new American record. At the 2009 National Championships, Smit punched her ticket to the World Championships by winning the 200 IM.

Smits lives and trains in Palo Alto, California for head coach Lea Maurer.
Arena is distributed by Arena USA, based in Carlsbad, CA.

Since 1973, Arena creates and markets waterwear products for competitive swimmers and swim-fans and it is recognized as one of the premium brands for high quality swimwear and equipment. Over the last 36 years, the Company has developed a strong expertise in developing best in class products with particular focus on the Pool segment, while also gradually expanding into the Leisure/Beach segment.

Nowadays, Arena operates with commercial subsidiaries in Italy, France and Germany and through a network of worldwide distributors and licensees. The Arena brand is present in 80 countries worldwide, out of which 70 are directly managed by the Arena Group (6 through commercial subsidiaries and 64 through distributors and licensees), while in the Far East (10 countries) the brand is owned and managed by the Descente Group.

The genuine liaison of Arena to the world of sport and in particular to swimming competitions is enhanced by sponsoring activities at different levels, including governing bodies, national federations, athletes and clubs.

The Arena Elite Team of international swimming stars, includes Champions such as the many-times Olympic champion Aaron Peirsol (USA 26), gold medal in the 200m backstroke and in the 4x100m medley relay at the World Championships in Rome and gold medal in the 100m backstroke and in the 4x100m medley relay at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Rebecca Soni (USA, 21), Olympic champion of 200m breaststroke and World champion and World record holder in the 100m breaststroke, Eric Shanteau (USA, 26), gold medalist in 4×100 Medley Relay and Silver Medalist in 100m Breaststroke in Rome, the Brazilian champion Cesar Cielo (22), gold medal in the 50m freestyle and in the 100m freestyle at the World Championships in Rome as well as a gold medal in the 50m freestyle in Beijing, the Frenchman Alain Bernard (26), world silver in Rome and Olympic gold in Beijing in the 100m freestyle the Germans Paul Biedermann (23) world champion in the 200 and 400m freestyle, only athlete in the world to have beaten Michael Phelps, setting 2 new world records, and Thomas Lurz (29), gold in the 5km for three successive world championships, including the World Championships in Rome where he also won the 10km, the Tunisian Oussama Mellouli world and Olympic 1500m freestyle champion, the Serb Milorad Cavic (25), gold medal in the 50m butterfly and silver medal in the 100m butterfly in Rome and Olympic runner-up in the 100m butterfly, the Hungarian Laszlo Cseh (24), silver medal in the 200m medley and bronze in the 400m medley in Rome and three times silver medal in Beijing (200, 400m medley and 200m butterfly) , the Norwegian Alexander Dale Oen (23), silver medal in Beijing and European record holder in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke, the South Africans Cameron van der Burgh (21) , gold medal and world record in the 50m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke at the World Championships in Rome, and Roland Schoeman, Olympic champion at Athens in the 4x100m relay (2004) and twice world champion in the 50m butterfly in Montreal (2005) and in Melbourne (2007), Suzaan Van Biljon (21), winner of the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the recent world short course championships in Manchester and the Danish swimmer Lotte Friis (21), world champion in the 800m freestyle and silver in the 1500m freestyle, as well as the Polish champions Pavel Korzeniowski (24), silver medal in the 200m butterfly at the World Championships in Rome, and Mateusz Sawrymowicz (22), gold medal in the 1500m freestyle at the World Championships in Melbourne (2007).

Arena is also title sponsor of the FINA – ARENA Swimming World Cup, the historic partner of the LEN (Ligue Europeenne de Natation), and the technical sponsor and official supplier to many swimming Federations such as Russia, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Croatia, Norway, South Africa, New Zealand, Ukraine, Romania, Czech Republic, Lituania and Estonia.

Arena is also proud sponsor of the Men/Women's Swimming Programs at the University of Auburn (USA) and the Men's Swimming Program at the University of CAL Berkeley (USA).

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use