Freddie Crittenden has gone on to become one of the premier athletes when it comes to hurdles. The Hurdler has been making his mark by winning multiple golds under the NACAC banner. Not to mention, since his initial injury at Tokyo, he made a fabulous comeback to book at berth at the Paris Olympics where he came up sixth. But it was when he made his personal best of 12.93 seconds that he broke his glass ceiling.
With this run, he was seen as a face to bet on by the shoe brands. And just like that, his agent came calling to inform him that he has become quite the popular guy. So we bet that you are thinking, did he attract any big companies that gave him a contract? Well, today we are going to dive all into that as we discover all the brand endorsements that the hurdler has made.
What is the brand of Freddie Crittenden’s spikes? Know the Deal and its worth
Any guesses as to which brand it is? Well, many big footwear companies specialize in sponsoring track and field athletes. And seeing Crittenden run, Adidas were the ones to swoop in with an offer. Crittenden’s agency, Total Sports, negotiated the deal, which guarantees travel and medical benefits on top of an annual salary. And the perks don’t end here.
What’s a shoe brand endorsement without a long line of best-in-class footwear being made available for our track and field stars? Freddie Crittenden also gets that favor. Making the deal official, the 5-time All-American made a post on August 15, 2024, “Freddie III X Three Stripes – Been holding this one in for a while BUT hype to finally announce that I signed with Adidas! @adidas @adidasrunning.”
For the Paris Olympian, it was a special moment: “A new era begins #TheDreamContinues”. And fellow stars were even seen in the comment section to welcome the Phoenix-based sprinter into the Adidas Family. Olympics star Masai Russell commented, “Yessirr”. Even Gabby Thomas joined the bandwagon: “Congrats Freddie!!! ” The deal will see Crittenden appear in promotional events and marketing campaigns, which is nothing new.
Landing Adidas, the 2022 NACAC Gold medalist, will continue his hunt for more glory. Surely, the World Championships are on his mind, but might we say this Adidas deal was not only a euphoric moment but also a personal milestone?
Story behind it? What makes the deal so special
Do you know this is Freddie Crittenden’s first shoe deal? Signing the deal, this was the sprinter’s response to AZCentral on August 7, 2024, about the high-profile tie-up: “It’s a nice feeling to have a company want to invest in you and your career, and be a part of the journey. Shoe contracts are so elusive.” Well, it has been elusive for him, sure. Graduating out of college in 2017, after a gap of 7 years, Freddie Crittenden lands his shoe deal, that too so close to his 30th birthday. Well, better late than never.
“Sometimes it takes a really long time for athletes to get them, especially in my position as an older athlete. To have the opportunity to work with such a big name is really exciting. I’m happy it’s finally come to be,” said the track and field athlete. But if you look closely into his life, you will see what this deal signifies. SUPPORT. “It’s a big weight off my shoulders,” the hurdles specialist said when talking to AZCentral about landing the Adidas deal. When, 3 years ago, in 2021, he didn’t have one deal. To be more explicit, he was broke.
Yes, that’s the low such a talented sprinter had to face. “I was broke. The injury was not getting better as quickly as I thought it would, and life was hitting me too. The bills were hitting.” That’s how bad it was for the 2019 Pan American Silver medalist. Hamstring injuries in both legs left him with no time to prepare for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics trials, and he couldn’t clear the semi-finals. Nobody wants to sponsor him.
At this point, he even thought of quitting track and field. After running the Tokyo Olympics trials in June 2024, his mind had decided that there was no way back. He kissed the Hayward track to bid adieu: “I was saying goodbye. I knew I couldn’t do this anymore.” But when his heart said, ‘Don’t quit, ’ there was the matter of dealing with the actual reality. No money, no sponsorship. How will he afford to train, gym facilities, coaches, kits, etc.?
The Olympian would take up part-time jobs to stay afloat. He worked as a retailer in the GameStop video game outlet. He also took up jobs at a warehouse and made deliveries for Uber Eats to earn money. And that’s not all. His quest for his Olympic dream saw him become a substitute teacher for a while. It was training in the morning, followed by work in the evening. That’s how he got by.
Freddie Crittenden has been adamant that he had the talent and the work ethic to deserve a shoe deal much earlier. “They say, ‘He’s not going to make the team. He’s not good enough.’ And I’m sick of that. And I know I deserve to be here. I know I belong. I know I’m good enough to be here. And it’s time to show everybody.” This is how he stepped out to the Hayward Field in the Paris Olympics trials. He was a man on a mission. Mission accomplished. Team Adidas Now.
And his Instagram post on September 27 was him reflecting on the last few years: “My whole ‘Brand, ‘ I guess you can say lol #TheDreamContinues, and my always going on about people chasing their Dreams. I’m so very blessed to say mine came true.” But what he has learned in his journey since 2021 is that you gotta keep fighting for your dreams.
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