The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
BERLIN, Germany — Puma could make Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt the head of its Caribbean business once he retires from athletics, the head of the German sportswear firm was quoted as saying on Thursday.
"Usain Bolt could be even more important for us when he stops running," chief executive Bjorn Gulden told the Handelsblatt in an interview. "I can even imagine that he could run our business in the Caribbean."
Gulden has previously said Bolt, who has been sponsored by Puma since he was 15, could be just as valuable for the brand off the track, adding he would have more time for product development.
Bigger rival Nike has built a multi-billion dollar brand with retired basketball player Michael Jordan, while Adidas still uses former England football star David Beckham to promote its products.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bolt is due to run his last races at the World Athletics Championships in London this week and next — aiming to sign off with a fourth 100m title and a fifth 4x100m relay gold — taking his world haul to 13 to add to his eight Olympic golds.
Bolt, who turns 31 later this month, said earlier this week he was looking forward to a new chapter.
"It's going to be hard, as track and field has been everything for me since I was 10 and it’s been a rush — but we'll see where life takes me."
He intends to stay close to athletics and is eyeing some sort of roving ambassadorial role, inspiring the world's youth to get involved in a sport he says is on the up after reaching "rock bottom" with the Russian doping crisis of two years ago.
By Emma Thomasson; editor: Keith Weir.
From analysis of the global fashion and beauty industries to career and personal advice, BoF’s founder and CEO, Imran Amed, will be answering your questions on Sunday, February 18, 2024 during London Fashion Week.
The State of Fashion 2024 breaks down the 10 themes that will define the industry in the year ahead.
Imran Amed reviews the most important fashion stories of the year and shares his predictions on what this means for the industry in 2024.
After three days of inspiring talks, guests closed out BoF’s gathering for big thinkers with a black tie gala followed by an intimate performance from Rita Ora — guest starring Billy Porter.