Swimming Australia Extends Partnership With arena Through LA 2028
03/28/2025 03:15 PM
By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
Swimming Australia announced a four-year partnership extension with arena on Friday, solidifying it as the official swimwear brand for Australian swimmers through the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
The 2028 Games will mark the third straight Olympics in which Australian swimmers have worn arena, with the partnership beginning after the 2016 Games in Rio and running through the Tokyo 2020(1) and Paris 2024 Olympics.
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After Swimming Australia’s deal with Speedo expired on December 31, 2016, arena became its official swimwear brand, and after the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, the contract was extended through December 2021 it March of that year.
In March 2022, the two extended their partnership through December 2024.
It’s important to note that although arena is the official brand of Swimming Australia, Aussie swimmers are still able to wear and promote their personal sponsorships provided they follow certain guidelines. Two top Australians, Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O’Callaghan, are sponsored by Speedo and wore Speedo suits at the Paris Olympics, for example.
Swimming Australia also announced that arena has signed Australian rising star and Olympic gold medalist Olivia Wunsch, who at 18, won gold on the Aussie women’s 4×100 free relay in Paris.
"I am so excited to be representing such a renowned international and proven brand. I have grown up watching my idols compete in arena swimwear, so it's a surreal feeling for me to now join the arena family,” Wunsch said.
"As I start the next chapter in my career and look towards LA, I'm looking forward to continuing my growth and taking my performance to the next level with arena.”
Executive General Manager, Commercial Jodie Hawkins said: "It's a brand that has become synonymous with our successful Dolphins team. From Paris Dolphin debutant Olivia Wunsch through to the experienced Kyle Chalmers, arena has provided world-class technical support to our swimmers – as proven by the number of international medals won by our athletes."
"This extension represents a strong endorsement for Swimming Australia, the continued growth of swimming at all levels and the amazing success of our athletes on the world stage. We are proud to be part of arena's global strategy, and this partnership extension signifies the strength of the Dolphins on the international stage.”
The partnership extension with Swimming Australia comes as arena has yet to re-up its contract with USA Swimming after the two were partnered through the 2024 Olympic cycle.
To date, in 2025, arena is not listed on USA Swimming’s footer. arena, one of the marquee global swimwear brands, makes large investments in the sport, working with top elites and national governing bodies like Swimming Australia.
Currently, USA Swimming is still in search of a new CEO, a process now in its eighth month. Without a leader and a vision for the future on the U.S. front, it appears arena may be waiting for USA Swimming to get its house in order before determining their American domestic marketing plan.
arena CEO Peter Graschi spoke on the significance of continuing to sponsor Aussie swimmers through the next Olympics, noting not only their results in the water, but the fact that swimming is a way of life in Australia.
"It is very important for us to stand alongside the Dolphins, historically one of the strongest teams in the swimming world,” said Graschi. “Beyond their results in the pool, we are also proud to be the technical partner of a Federation that is very active in promoting swimming in a country where sport is not just a way to stay in shape, but it's a true lifestyle.
"As a global brand, our goal is to improve the quality of life for all by promoting and enabling an active lifestyle, both in and by the water, and Swimming Australia is a perfect partner to carry forward our message of promoting this sport."
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