TYR renews their contract with the French Swimming Federation!

France will be a formidable competitor for the US come London 2012. Their freestyle relays on paper look unstoppable.

With this renewed deal it will essentially be TYR & Arena versus Speedo&Lochte. (Let's wait and see if Michael Phelps decides to participate in FINA World Champs next year let alone the Olympics. I have my doubts for I feel who has moved on in his life to newer and fresher pursuits.

s for the "TYR/Arena/Speedo Showdown" Where people see flags at the Olympics, I see both brands and flags. If next years Olympics has no Michael Phelps, I think this will be the first Olympics where Speedo is considered a brand name and not an icon.

Huntington Beach, Calif. – December 9, 2010 – TYR Sport, Inc. is proud to announce a renewed agreement as the official sponsor of the French Swimming Federation (FFN) for swimming, diving, open water swimming, and synchronized swimming, through the year 2012. TYR has held a successful partnership with the FFN since 2002.

One of the top federations in the world, the French dominated the 2010 European Championships this past August and were named European Champions in swimming for the first time in history. Over the course of the competition, the French delegation earned medals in both the pool and the open water, for a total of 23 medals. Eight gold medals were won, which included performances from champions Alain Bernard (100m freestyle), Frédérick Bousquet (50m freestyle and 50m butterfly), Camille Lacourt (100m backstroke and 50m backstroke), and Yannick Agnel (400m freestyle).

Three French swimmers currently hold the fastest recorded times in 2010 in their respective events: Bousquet (50m freestyle), Lacourt (100m backstroke and 50m backstroke), and Sebastien Rouault (800m freestyle). The world’s top ranking for 2010 in the 4×100m medley relay also belongs the French team consisting of Lacourt, Bousquet, Hugues Duboscq, and Fabien Gilot.

“I am thrilled to have TYR continue its alliance with our national team,” said Francis Luyce, president of the FFN and former world record holder. “In our time together, the FFN has developed and transformed into one of the best contingents in the world. TYR has always been recognized in Europe for its expertise in technology and we’re looking forward to their support for many years to come.”

TYR has a storied past with the FFN. In December 2008, at the European SC Championships in Croatia, Amaury Leveaux set the world record in the 100m freestyle. Leveaux’s time of 44.94, while wearing TYR Tracer™ Technology, still stands today.

“This renewal, along with TYR’s substantial growth and advanced technology development, will allow us to continue our progression in Europe through the support of swimming federations and their athletes,” stated Franck Horter, TYR’s European General Manager. “I am excited to work with the federation as we focus on the London Games.”

The French Federation boasts a nationwide team registration of more than 295,000 participants with more than 1,300 affiliated clubs. TYR will receive exclusive rights to develop an authentic FFN Collection available through the federation’s online store.

In addition to the FFN, TYR expanded its European commitment earlier this year by signing a sponsorship agreement with the German Swimming Federation (DSV) and also continues its partnership with the Danish Swimming Federation. 
Other key relationships include sponsorship of U.S.A Triathlon and the Italian Triathlon Federation, as well as partnerships with Ironman® and U.S. Masters Swimming.