Texas Swimmer Carson Foster Signs NIL Deal with Mizuno Swim
University of Texas swimmer Carson Foster has signed with Mizuno Swim, the company announced on Thursday. He’s the first college swimmer added to Mizuno’s roster of athletes.
Foster is a sophomore at Texas. He won an NCAA title for the Longhorns in the 800 freestyle relay as a freshman and finished in the top six in three events – second in the 400 individual medley, fourth in the 200 IM, sixth in the 200 backstroke – in his first NCAAs.
Foster will don Mizuno gear in training and competition, including its GX Sonic tech suits. Mizuno said in a press release that it will work with Foster to get his insight in developing future products and services.
Carson Foster; Photo Courtesy: Mizuno Swim
“I am excited to partner with Mizuno USA because they are a fast-rising company in the swimming world,” Foster said. “Their continuous product advancement and my personal experience gives me great confidence in their products.”
The native of Cincinnati, Ohio, came close to qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, finishing third at U.S. Olympic Trials in June in the 400 IM. He was eighth in the 200 freestyle, missing the top six relay spots by .18 seconds. But before the Olympics, the 19-year-old set a time of 4:08.46 at Sectionals in Austin that was the fastest in the world in 2020 and quicker than the time used by Chase Kalisz to win gold in Tokyo.
“We are thrilled to partner with Carson and support him in his swimming career,” said Clint Sammons, team sports marketing manager at Mizuno USA. “He has already proven a talented athlete in the pool and continues to hold himself to a high standard. We look forward to working with him and continuing the advancement of Mizuno USA products with him.”
Foster won three gold medals, including two in relays and the 200 IM, at the 2019 World Junior Championships. He won silver in the 200 back at the 2017 World Juniors.
Foster is among a growing number of elite swimmers availing themselves of new NCAA rules allowing them to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL). Olympians Regan Smith and Torri Huske have signed apparel sponsorships deals, while Erica Sullivan has retained an agency to manage her NIL earning potential. Deals like Foster’s and David Curtiss’s with Speedo are likely to become increasingly commonplace, with swimmers no longer having to choose between monetizing their accomplishments in the pool and sacrificing amateur eligibility.
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