Reflecting on our 2024 predictions
Good morning.
It has been 48 weeks since we published our 2024 predictions. Just as there is a trend to make bold predictions at the start of a year, it is just as exciting and important to reflect on those predictions.
Here were our top predictions for the year and our reflections at the conclusion of 2024:
The Olympics will rebound. The Paris Olympics rebounded with a viewership of 30.4 million viewers, an 82% increase from the Tokyo Olympics! This is great news for athletes and sponsors alike as we turn our attention to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) sponsorship space will continue to expand. 2024 saw NIL sponsorship continue to grow with athletes building their brand early, embracing versatility, staying authentic, and thinking long-term. The athletes who mastered their NIL game in 2024 leveraged social media to their advantage, built their brand outside of their sport, and leveraged their unique story.
Athletes are going to create unique marketing opportunities. The pre- and post-Olympics hype always seems to create unique and exciting opportunities for athletes. Out of home (OOH) advertising rose this year with athletes connecting with sponsors hosting ads in their own stadiums.
2024 was an exciting year for sports and sports marketing, and we can’t wait to introduce our predictions for 2025 in the new year!
Enjoy your week!
— Taylor
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Alex Massialas
The last stop of the World Cup took Alex Massialas and the team to Takasaki, Japan. Alex posted a bronze medal finish in the individual men’s foil event, while the U.S. Men’s team collected a silver medal finish.
Jack Dahlgren
The 2024 Toyota U.S. Open Championships took place in Greensboro this past weekend and Jack Dahlgren threw down some swift times. Jack posted fast finishes in the men’s 200 back (3rd place - 1:43.06) and 200 free (4th place - 1:34.36).
View full results from the 2024 Toyota U.S. Open Championships.
How to tell your story on social media.
Social media can be a powerful platform to showcase different aspects of your lifestyle, sport, personal hobbies and fun events in your life. All of these things combine to give your audience a perception of you as a brand.
When athletes begin to narrow their focus of what they are posting/sharing with an audience, this is where we begin to see an actual brand form.
The Key: The key here is to decide what your main themes are and then start making posts related to those specific themes. Does this mean you can never make an off-brand post or just mix it up when you feel like it? Of course not.
Here are a few examples of athletes/people who have narrowed down their main brand themes and make a post around one of these themes every few days.
Victoria Garrick, Founder of The Hidden Opponent, former D1 volleyball player. Themes: Mental health, Body-Image, relationship with fiance, former life as an athlete and mindset change, vulnerability.
Here is a an example of Victoria telling the story about life as an athlete “then versus now” and what she’s learned. Here’s another one around her theme of body image (tied into a sponsor post for Fabletics).
Note: Victoria has really leaned into the use of IG Reels to make short videos that often breakdown how the media portrays body image. These get re-shared like crazy and have helped her build a large following. It didn’t happen over night and is really just the result of consistent posting within her main themes. She also shares more vulnerability in her captions and tells stories about each photo - this helps get high engagement per post.
Read examples from Trae Young and Sara Blakely online at “Cejih Explains.”
Team USA captains reporting for Short Course Worlds in Budapest! Congrats to captains (L-R) Lilly King, Kieran Smith, Carson Foster, and Regan Smith!
Sponsor Spotlight: YMCA River Crossing
The Hunterdon County YMCA teach their athletes to build many valuable skills, including hard work, dedication, and moral and ethical qualities such as respect, self-discipline, and goal-setting. The team competes in the National YMCA Swimming and Diving and USA Swimming organizations, and are supported by the River Crossing YMCA.
At CG Sports, we love to support clubs and LSCs in as many ways as we can, including connecting them with our athletes for swim clinics. On December 21st and 22nd, Jack Dahlgren and Phoebe Bacon will be joining the Stingrays to provide motivational speeches and a pool technique session for swimmers in a two-day clinic.
Interested in bringing one of our athletes to your club? Learn about the different services we offer for swim clinics and reach out to us with questions and inquiries!
Champions Mojo, Episode #264: “Racing and Business Insights with Olympic Coach Dudley Duncan”
Coach Dudley Duncan, a legend with over five decades on the pool deck, joins us to unravel the art of swimming and the strategic nuances of racing. Promising a fresh perspective, Coach Duncan underscores the importance of keeping the sport playful, even as athletes become more goal-oriented. His new book, "The Art of Swimming and the Game of Racing," offers strategic insights for swimmers and coaches aiming to elevate their skills and perhaps manage their own swimming clubs. Whether you're an aspiring swimmer or a seasoned coach, this episode guarantees lessons that will inspire a playful yet strategic approach to racing.
We also explore the world of master swimmers, where the motivations and challenges differ vastly from those of younger athletes. Coach Duncan shines a light on the empowering environments of master meets, where camaraderie and personal strategies help adult swimmers rediscover joy in competition. He reminds hesitant swimmers of the supportive nature of these gatherings, encouraging them to embrace racing without the pressures of youth, focusing on personal strategy and enjoyment.
As we navigate the themes of process, preparation, and mindset, Coach Duncan shares anecdotes of coaching athletes to Olympic levels, illustrating the power of mental rehearsal and focus. From Olympians Whitney Hedgepeth's and Rada Owen's journey to Dudley’s own experiences in pool ownership, this episode is rich with insights on maintaining excellence in the sport. Whether discussing the entrepreneurial side of pool management or the benefits of outdoor swimming, Coach Duncan’s philosophy centers on staying present and encouraging excellence, offering a comprehensive guide for both athletes and coaches alike. Dive in and listen to be inspired!
Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com.
Craving more from the Champion's Mojo team? Grab your copy of Kelly Palace's Take Your Mark, LEAD! and Maria Parker's Do Tough on Amazon!
