Gillette Sharpens Focus On Olympics With Roger Federer, Manu Ginobelli, Ryan Lochte

The Gillette effort is the brand’s first program launched as part of parent company Procter & Gamble’s 10-year partnership with the Olympics. P&G’s global alliance with the International Olympic Committee includes the next five Olympic Games, beginning with London this year and running through the 2020 Olympic Games.

According to Gillette, each of these athletes “will participate in activities to help inspire and encourage future generations to achieve greatness through great starts in athletics – and in life.”

“We think Gillette’s program is the perfect start to P&G’s Olympic Games Program,” Marc Pritchard, P&G global marketing and brand building officer, said in a statement. “[Among] them, these athletes have earned 18 world records and 55 world championships and they embody the commitment to excellence that inspires us as a company.”

The grooming brand said a global campaign would address the “grooming ritual that helps [men] give them a great start to their day so they can look, feel and be their best.”

Gillette said it plans to inspire future generations of Olympians by having these athletes tell “powerful, personal stories that illustrate the importance of a great start from the athletes’ perspective.”

The athletes also will recognize groups or organizations from their own past that helped them to become better athletes and people.

According to Federer, “I have seen firsthand how a program with early involvement positively impacts a young person’s life. The athletes working with Gillette have a great opportunity to inspire young athletes to greatness.”

Gillette said that more athletes would be added to the roster. The current group (in alphabetical order):

Mario Bazan: Peru, Athletics (Middle Distance)
Thomaz Bellucci: Brazil, Tennis
Alain Bernard: France, Swimming
Paul Biedermann: Germany, Swimming
Yahel Castillo: Mexico, Diving
Lin Dan: China, Badminton
Alexandre Despatie: Canada, Diving
Murilo Endres: Brazil, Volleyball
Roger Federer: Switzerland, Tennis
Rudy Fernandez: Spain, Basketball
Felipe Franca Silva: Brazil, Swimming
Paulo Ganso: Brazil, Soccer
Tyson Gay: United States, Athletics (100m)
Manu Ginobili: Argentina, Basketball
Tomas Gonzalez: Chile, Gymnastics
Andriy Govorov: Ukraine, Swimming
Sir Chris Hoy: Great Britain, Cycling
Shinji Kagawa: Japan, Soccer
Nikita Lobintsev: Russia, Swimming
Ryan Lochte: United States, Swimming
Fernando Platas: Mexico, Diving
Albert Subirats: Venezuela, Swimming
Matteo Tagliariol: Italy, Fencing
Liam Tancock: Great Britain, Swimming