The world is getting ready for the Rio Olympic Games next summer in Brazil, and BMW of North America has thrown its support behind select athletes as part of its role as the Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee. As part of BMW’s support, these competitors are now members of the BMW Performance Team for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Initial members of the BMW Performance Team include Olympic swimmers Nathan Adrian, Tyler Clary, and Maya DiRado. US Paralympians and hopefuls joining the team include track & field athletes Josh George, Chelsea McClammer, April Holmes, Tatyana McFadden, and Aaron Pike.
Not all of the athletes in this group have qualified to compete in the Olympic Games, but the endorsement from BMW means that they will be receiving financial assistance and access to BMW resources to help them get to South America.
In August, BMW announced that it was working on a new racing wheelchair for Team USA. The German automaker has been working extensively with Team USA to improve the vehicles athletes use in their sports. The wheelchair is the fourth project of its kind from BMW and the US Olympic Team, and follows in the footsteps of the bobsled BMW reengineered for the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Presumably, the four wheelchair-bound Paralympians will be some of the first athletes to use this new equipment.
We can’t wait to see the Performance Team in action. Time will tell if the team will grow as the Rio Olympics draws closer.
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