Ralph Lauren Brings Workforce of Olympic Athletes to U.S. Open

Ralph Lauren rolled out the pink carpet for a variety of its athlete ambassadors earlier this week, inviting them to a luxurious field on the U.S. Open, the place they had been acquired a fowl’s-eye view of each Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic successful their matches within the quarterfinals.

Regardless of the sweltering temperatures in Flushing Meadows, New York, the athletes had been dressed to the nines of their best Ralph Lauren togs, even donning blazers and ties within the case of Daryl Homer, an Olympic fencer.

“It’s slightly sizzling, however I needed to go along with one thing slightly formal,” he mentioned.

Hommer mentioned he’s been carrying Ralph Lauren since he was a toddler — his mom used to bribe him with Polo shirts if he managed to get good grades — and commenced working with the corporate in 2018. Homer, who’s hoping to high quality for his fourth Olympics look when the choices start in October, is de facto getting psyched in regards to the upcoming Video games.

“Paris might be lovely,” he mentioned of subsequent 12 months’s Summer time Video games venue. “Final time, it was all actually stripped down, however my occasion might be on the Grand Palais, so it’s going to be nice. And I’m glad to have Polo together with me.”

One other athlete wanting ahead to the upcoming Video games is Jeffrey Louis, a break dancing athlete who has already certified to compete in Paris. Lewis mentioned the title of the game, which might be making its Olympics debut in 2024, is definitely breaking. “Break dancing got here from the media,” he mentioned.

Louis admitted he was shocked that the game is being added to the Olympics, however he’s prepared to point out the world his strikes. “Breaking began within the Bronx, so I take pleasure being from the U.S.,” he mentioned. “However globally, each nation has its personal distinctive model. Ours is extra foundational whereas Japan’s has extra tips. So it’s going to be distinctive.”

One other athlete who has already certified to compete subsequent 12 months is Katie Grimes, who will tackle the 10K open-water swim in Paris. Though the 17-year-old already secured her spot with a slender photo-finish, third-place displaying on the world swimming championships in July, her go to to the U.S. Open — the primary time she’d seen dwell tennis — was considered one of her uncommon downtime appearances.

“It’s a sure factor that I’m going to Paris however there’s no breather for me,” she mentioned. “I should be ready bodily and mentally.” She believes the U.S. has shot at medaling in, not solely her occasion, referred to as marathon swimming, however most of the different matches that can happen within the pool. “We now have actually good way, dash and relay swimmers,” she mentioned. “So I at all times think about us as a result of we have now such depth.”

Different athletes who joined Ralph Lauren for the quarterfinal matches included Olympic ice skaters Mia and Alex Shibutani and Olympic gymnast Shilese Jones.

Ralph Lauren has been the official clothing store of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships since 2005. The corporate outfits the on-court officers and ball crew and creates a commemorative assortment of attire and equipment for males, ladies and youngsters.

The corporate additionally outfits the American workforce for the Ryder Cup event, which is able to happen this 12 months on the Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership in Rome from Sept. 29 by Oct. 1.

Smylie Kaufman, a one-time PGA skilled who’s now an on-air analyst for the game, took within the tennis matches as he ready to jet off to Italy later this month. “I believe it’s going to be the closest Ryder Cup we’ve ever seen,” he predicted. “Everyone thought it could be a U.S. blowout, however because the 12 months went on, the Europeans have come collectively very properly. They’re going to be onerous to beat.”

Though the captain’s decide of Justin Thomas to be on the workforce has created some controversy, Kaufman thinks it was the best name. “There have been tons of fine choices, however Justin has been one of the best Ryder Cup participant for the U.S., so it could have been tough to not decide him.”