Cal Track & Field: World Champion Camryn Rogers Earns Contract From Nike
Camryn Rogers’ path to the Paris Olympics next summer got a little bit easier.
The 24-year-old Cal grad, who won the women’s hammer throw at the World Championships last month in Budapest, joined a new team the next day.
Her agent had been talking with Nike about a sponsorship deal, and a spot atop the medal podium sealed sealed the deal for the Canadian star.
“It was exciting. It’s something i was really hopeful about,” said Rogers, who competed at the Worlds without major sponsorship suplport. “I signed my name on the dotted line the day after the final.
“Everything happened in a whirlwind but in the best way possible. I’m still wrapping my head around it.”
Camryn Rogers shows off the Nike "Swoosh"
The contract with Nike brings Rogers financial peace of mind.
“Money is not the reason we do this, but money is the reason we are able to do this,” she said. “To have the extra added bit of support, especially going into such an important year an Olympic year, you want to have as much stability and control as possible. It’s definitely something that has alleviated some of the stress I have going into the season.”
Beyond the financial benefit, Rogers said she is tickled to be aligned with the sport’s biggest shoe and apparel company.
“I’m excited to be wearing the Swoosh across my chest now whenever I compete and to be amongst other talented (Nike-sponsored) athletes, especially hammer throwers,” she said. “It’s definitely a dream I’ve had for a long time, to be able to represent such a huge brand is amazing, especially coming off my rookie pro year. It was a pretty good rookie year. I’m super happy.”
After Budapest, Rogers celebrated by spending two weeks vacationing in Europe with ex-Cal teammate Anna Purchase, who finished 11th at the meet.
She returned to the Bay Area and resumed training with coach Mo Saatara on Monday to begin the gradual buildup to the Paris Games. Qualifying in the women’s hammer is set for Aug. 4 with the finals two days later.
“It’s nice to be back to my regularly scheduled programming,” she said.
Rogers completed her collegiate eligibility in 2022, winning her third straight NCAA title. She exited Cal with the 11 longest throws in collegiate history.
In the meantime, she finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, delayed one year to 2021. She won a silver medal at the Worlds in Eugene, Ore., a year ago, competition also pushed back one year as a result of the COVID pandemic.
Rogers competed as a professional this season for the first time, and she delivered a personal-best throw of 257 feet, 11 1/4 inches (78.62 meters) in May at Los Angeles, which moved her to No. 5 on the all-time world list.
At Budapest, she responded by delivering four throws better than anyone else in the field, winning with a mark of 253-4 (77.22).
“It was one of my best series, which makes me feel happy. This is the one thing Mo and I really work on, how we’ve executed all of our training not just this year, but all those years.”
The Diamond League Finals, which climaxes the global pro season, was held Friday and Saturday in conjunction with the Prefontaine Classic at Eugene, where a pair of world records were set. But there was no hammer throw competition because the hammer is never a Diamond League event.
"It’s really sad,” Rogers said. “I think they’re missing out in the midst of so many amazing performances across the board. I know there has been a huge group of throwers, including me, who have been advocating to have hammer in the Diamond League. I’m hoping in the near future.”
For now, Rogers is ready to begin her quest to do something big in Paris.
“It’s going to be a crazy year but I’m really excited for what’s to come,” she said. “I already can’t wait.”
Cover photo of former Cal hammer throw star Camryn Rogers
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo