- Team GB athletes achieved another impressive medal haul at the Paris Olympics
- According to an expert, the stars will now be reserved for lucrative brand deals
The Olympic Games concluded in style on Sunday with the closing ceremony at the Stade de France, after two weeks of exciting action.
Team GB continued to enjoy success in various events, winning an impressive 65 medals, the second highest number of medals they have ever won abroad and the third highest number of any nation.
As both old and new competitors made their mark at the world’s biggest sporting festival, Great Britain claimed 14 gold medals in the French capital.
The people who stood on the highest podium in Paris have written their names in sporting history. But success and recognition in their favorite sport may not be the only paths that will soon change their lives.
Brand and PR expert Nick Ede said The sun that a host of lucrative opportunities will soon become available to Britain’s biggest sports stars.
A branding expert claims Team GB’s winning Olympic athletes are queuing up to secure lucrative deals following their successes in Paris
Britain’s Olympians returned home after a historic medal haul at the Paris Games
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“It’s a golden moment for anyone who has won medals to be in front of brands because they can earn between £1 and £10 million from deals,” he explained.
‘Because they look fantastic, are great role models and have done so much for us that the biggest companies like British Airways and fashion giants want to sign these amazing Brits.
“There will be sponsorship deals, social media deals, speaking engagements, modeling deals for products and TV shows. A celebrity version of Gladiators would be perfect for them.”
British 800m star Keely Hodgkinson will undoubtedly be one of those stars.
The 22-year-old’s Instagram following has more than doubled to over half a million since her gold medal. Ede added that brands are already doing everything they can to make her the face of their next campaign.
“Financially, she has a chance to become a millionaire by 2025 through lucrative deals and personal appearances,” Ede continued.
“She’s the golden girl of the Olympics and someone who stands out because she’s been through a lot. She was sick when she was younger and she overcame adversity, people love those kinds of stories.
Nick Ede pointed to women’s 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson as one of the standouts
Hodgkinson’s Instagram followers skyrocketed to over 500,000 after her triumph
According to the expert, the 22-year-old will close several brand deals in the coming months
‘I imagine a lot of big designers, like Little Mistress and Lipsy, will give her a lot of money for all kinds of different ads.
‘They will try to sign her because she is an honest and ambitious personality who really connects with the audience.
‘There could also be interest in TV – maybe Strictly, I’m A Celebrity, Celebrity Big Brother or a celebrity version of The Traitors – because she looks stunning and has a great personality and sense of humour.
“She’s beautiful, a brilliant athlete and a role model, so this is really her moment to seize every opportunity.”
Teenage skateboarder Sky Brown is also an athlete with huge earning potential outside the skate park.
After becoming Britain’s youngest ever Olympic medallist in Tokyo, the 16-year-old added another trophy to her list of achievements in Paris on Tuesday by winning bronze in the women’s park event.
“Girls are crazy about her,” Ede added. “I can imagine fashion, beauty and sports brands are investing a lot of money in her, she’s definitely one to watch.”
Teen skateboarding sensation Sky Brown is another athlete who will be in high demand
Ede claimed that brands will ‘throw money’ at the Nike-sponsored athlete in a bid to collaborate with her
“She’s absolutely gorgeous and skateboarding is a little bit different. She’s someone who can really encourage young people to get out there and make a lot of money with it.”
Brown became the youngest athlete ever to be sponsored by Nike when she signed a contract with the US sports giant in 2019. The deal is reportedly worth £3.5 million.