The right equipment

A while back I explained exactly how our everyday Olympian (and others just like him) make a living. I wrote about it here. It is slightly less glorified than Michael Jordan's multi-million dollar NBA contract paired with a multi-gazillion dollar shoe deal. In fact, it is a combination of working your butt off on the road traveling to clinics, appearances, and speaking engagements and working your butt of in the pool in order to swim fast and place in the top two in the country to secure your USOC/USA Swimming stipend. Some have suit contracts and other endorsements, too. Mark was once sponsored by TYR (2004-2006) and then was sponsored by Speedo (2007-2008). Suit contracts are usually comprised of base salary (sometimes based off of world rankings--so, again, you gotta be speedy) and performance-based bonuses. At the end of the day, you've got to be fast (and consistently fast) to bring home the cash money.

As most of you know or have heard me blab my big mouth about, the tech-suits threw a wrench into the world of suit contracts. In 2008 Speedo had the fastest suit, so besides a few top tier folks (i.e. Michael Phelps and company), Speedo didn't need guys like our everyday Olympian to sell a suit. They had the market cornered. Thus ended (or just not renewed) Mark's Speedo contract. Then in 2009, a handful of super suits hit the market. In a mad dash and frantic game of musical suits, athletes were ignoring (now maybe we're realizing this was a mistake) the pursuit of a suit contract so that they could have the flexibility to wear the hottest, fastest, suit of the moment. Next, in 2010, the super suits were locked away and athletes were back on the, "Hello my name is _________, and I'd like a suit contract" journey.

Last summer Mark swam great (like SUPER great). He proved, again (it has been 12 years since Mark made his first national team) that he was a force to be reckoned with. But, still not a bite on his, "Hello my name is Mark..." pitch. So it is time to get serious. Mark and his secretary (ME!) are going beyond a mere introduction. We are saying "THIS IS WHY I'D BE GOOD FOR YOUR COMPANY..."

Why the renewed sense of urgency with the suit stuff? Mark attended a national team training camp a couple of weeks ago. The USA Swimming sports psychologist spoke to the team about feeling prepared. He said that it wasn't enough to feel prepared in the water, but that you must be totally prepared outside of the water, too. This includes having the right equipment and feeling confident that you have the means to accomplish your goals (in PhD world we call this "means efficacy"). So, Mark decided that we had had enough close calls with the suits. Remember, in 2009 we were rushing around right up until Mark's race to find him the right suit (Thank you to Nathan Jendrick, Megan's husband, for saving the day!). Then last summer, I was involved in a complicated situation in which our friend, Laure, and I were trying to successfully get a suit shipped from Japan, to France, and then to California in less than a week. If you don't remember the story click here. Well, beyond a pay check, having a suit contract means that your suits, the right suits, are shipped to you before your races. You don't have to worry about the right suit, or the shipping, or how stretched out your old suit is in case you have to wear it again. A brand new suit is just there... like magic. This is now our motivation to lock in a suit contract (though a paycheck would be nice, too). Financially we're hanging in there without a contract, but for Mark (and his confidence), a suit contract would ease the anxiety, nerves, and concern leading up to each race.

At the end of the day it is the swimmer in the suit that swims the race... but, a feeling confident in the suit you wear and the company that stands behind you is key.

Is my new leaf still turned?

I received a question from a friend and, evidently, avid Everydayolympian.blogspot.com reader (thanks, Cathy!) She asked if I stuck to my new leaf promise made right before Pan Pacs.

I am proud to say... you're darn tootin' I did.

Now, I'm not claiming to not get nervous at all. Have you ever watched your husband swim in a race that lasts one minute (literally) to secure financial peace for the next year? Well, if not, then no judgement.

So, yes, I did get nervous, but it was an appropriate level of nervousness.

I was cool, calm and collected. I sat with friends during Mark's races (I would never do this before). I chatted, socialized and even took pictures-again, my previous nervous self would have been too nervous-on the verge of vomiting-to even hold a camera, much less a baby and a camera.

This new leaf business is great. I feel good and Mark swims fast. What an amazing combination!Additionally, as soon as I declared the turning of this new leaf, Mark got the sense that stipend and the entire stipend process would be undergoing some changes in the next couple of years (to our benefit--when I say our I mean all elite US swimmers). Oprah's got The Secret, but I've got The New Leaf. Now all I need is a daytime talk show and a couple billion dollars, and I'm in business.

The next thing I hope this new leaf focuses on is the sponsorship situation. I've heard that patience is a virtue, but have not experienced this virtue first hand.

So, if you're thinking about flipping your own leaf, I say "go for it!"

This is Breezy Danger sigining off...

But don't you have a suit contract?

When people ask, "how the heck does Mark make money?" people usually follow up by asking, "sponsorships?"

Yes. Kind of. I've already discussed stipend and clinics; sponsorships make up the rest of the professional swimming trifecta.

When you think swimming sponsorships, who do you think of? Speedo? TYR? Nike? You're right. These companies and other suit companies like blueseventy, FINIS and Arena also sponsor athletes. Mark, however, has not been under a suit contract since 2008.

In 2004 Mark signed with TYR right before the Olympic Trials. When his TYR contract ended Mark decided to go with Speedo through 2008. These were great. Great companies. Great contracts. And, at times, great money.

When Mark's Speedo contract ended in 2008 he floated contractless. 2009 was the year of the high-tech suits and suit contracts weren't really happening. Companies weren't particularly interested and when there was interest, athletes were afraid to sign and risk missing out on the next fastest suit. It was a mess.

In 2009 when news dropped that the suits were to be banned in 2010 we started looking, again, for a suit sponsor. However, then (and now) the big question on everyone's mind was, "Well, what is he going to do without the suit."

Ugh.

So, the Gangloff family (okay, Mark is actually the one wearing and racing in the suit, but in this little world called professional swimming we get to know the companies, the dealers, the designers-they become our friends and our support) is without a suit contract. Sad.

Mark spoke with his agent yesterday. When I asked how the conversation unfolded (remember, it is all I can do to just ask and not nag), Mark responded, "I just have to swim fast at nationals. Period."

Double ugh.

It's okay. We'll be fine. We've done okay without a suit contract for 18 months. And, I have no doubt that mark will "just swim fast."

What? Did you think it was easy to get sponsored?

In the mean time I have been brainstorming (like any swim wife would) about ways that I can help our average, everyday, Olympian get a little support behind him. I have decided, with the help/push/nudge of one of my mentor swim wives (the wife of a 2x Austrailian swimmer... okay, fine, you guessed it-Brett Hawke's wife. Brett Hawke is Mark's coach, therefore, my coach-in-law which means that Brett's wife and I are practically family) that I will be pursuing local sponsorship opportunities for Mark this fall.

Now, I know what you're thinking. It will be a big undertaking. But, it's got to be done, right? I'm thinking printed bios, brochures, meetings, the whole nine. Any suggestions? I'll keep you posted on my plan of attack.

Show me the money!

Jerry Maguire showed his client the money with a multi-million dollar contract, but sports agents in the swimming world have a more daunting task of finding work and sponsorship for relatively low-profile athletes (swimmers). Swimming, though one of the most popular sports every four years during Olympic fever, has yet to really break into prime time and certainly, with the exception of one Mr. Michael Phelps and maybe a few others, has not broken into mainstream sponsorship. I think that this will change given a little bit of time and a little bit of love from people like yourselves-swim fans and supporters of Olympic wives.

Mark does have an agent, like we would recommend for anyone trying to make it (not necessarily trying to make it "big" but those merely trying to make it to the next season-I'm assuming that if you want to make it "big" that you would also need an agent). Mark's agent, David Arluck, helps Mark to establish working relationships with organizations such as the USA Swimming Foundation, the USOC and other companies so that Mark can get work such as speaking engagements, autograph sessions and swim clinics. Like you probably assume, Arluck Promotions arranges work for Mark and then gets a "cut" of the payment. Is it worth it? Absolutely. There was a time, before Mark had an agent, that he relied solely on the USA Swimming/USOC stipend (this was a stressful time and I am so thankful that I was merely the girlfriend at the time and did not have to experience, directly, this stress-I was only an outsider at the time and the nagging was minimal). Now, Mark's agent ensures that Mark has steady work throughout the year-thank goodness because we have yet to get a sponsorship for daycare and diapers (though if the makers of Pampers, Luvs or any other diaper brand is out there and would like to become a sponsor, please drop us a line. I am not above slapping a logo on the rear end of our sweet baby girl).

David also helps to protect Mark's rights (to his name, likeness, image, etc.) as a professional athlete.

The big question that I'm sure all of you are wondering is if I meddle in Mark's business with his agent. The answer, maybe an obvious one, is yes. Duh. I am a nervous swim wife. Again, it is my job to nag, meddle and instigate. I involve myself when Mark asks me to and when I think it is necessary. Do I include myself in every conversation between Mark and his agent? No... I swear.