Canadian Paralympian Nate Riech signs professional deal with ASICS

ASICS Canada made an exciting announcement on Tuesday, revealing the signing of Canadian Paralympic champion and two-time World Para Athletics champion, Nate Riech. This partnership marks a significant moment for Riech, who becomes the first Canadian Para runner to join forces with the renowned Japanese athletic brand.

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The news was shared across his social media platforms on Tuesday afternoon, and for Riech, it was a moment of eager anticipation to finally share this milestone. “It felt pretty awesome,” Riech exclaimed, reflecting on the announcement. He even received a special congratulatory message from ASICS athlete and 2022 world 100m champion, Fred Kerley.

A perfect match

When asked about the partnership with ASICS, Riech revealed that the connection initially began through Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, the Canadian women’s 800m record holder.

“It was a mutual exploration process; Paralympic athletes often encounter challenges when seeking sponsorships,” Riech said. “Their motto ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ resonated with me, especially considering my invisible disability. It felt like a perfect fit—especially because my first pair of spikes were ASICS. Partnering with a brand I love is truly exciting.”

Riech falls under the T38 sport classification, where disabilities are often invisible. This classification is designed for runners with cerebral palsy, and athletes in this class may exhibit a slight limp while running but otherwise have a stride similar to able-bodied runners. Riech’s disability came from a freak accident when he was 10 while playing golf with friends. A golf ball hit him in the back of the head, causing a brain injury affecting the right side of his body.

Striving for excellence

As a Paralympic champion, world champion, and world record holder in the T38 1,500m event, Riech has already achieved remarkable success in his career. However, his determination remains unwavering as he continues to aim higher. When asked about his motivation, Riech openly expressed his desire to compete with able-bodied athletes and reach the national final in the men’s 1,500m at the 2024 Canadian Track and Field Championships.

“My current motivation comes from my little brother, Max Tucker, who won the U20 decathlon title at this year’s Canadian Nationals,” says Riech. “While he’s talented in the 1,500m (the final event of the decathlon), I believe I have an edge, and that inspires me to work on my speed.”

Reflecting on his past season, Riech admitted that, apart from securing the World Para title in July, he fell short of accomplishing all of his goals. Looking ahead to 2024, he is determined to turn the tide and deliver another gold medal at the Paris Paralympic Games.

Advocating for Para-athletes

Up until this partnership with ASICS, Riech faced challenges getting sponsorships and has been a vocal advocate for greater brand support for Para-athletes. He firmly believes that while his story is inspiring, it is not unique. “I don’t think my story is all that special,” Riech humbly stated. “Sometimes when you’re faced with adversity, you need to figure out the next step, and for me, becoming a Paralympic athlete was that step.”

This partnership with ASICS aligns perfectly with Riech’s commitment to advancing the Para movement. ASICS shares his vision of promoting inclusivity and fostering growth in Para sports. Although Riech has noticed a growing interest in the Para movement, he believes there is still much more to come. “I received far more recognition and congratulations for my victory at the World Para Athletics Championships this year than I did during Tokyo 2020,” says Riech.

At 28, Riech joins the ASICS family, alongside several other Canadian athletes who represent the brand, including Natasha Wodak, Madeleine Kelly and especially Cam Levins—an athlete whom Riech has long admired. “Levins’ journey from injury to breaking the Canadian marathon record–three times–has been truly inspiring to watch,” Riech expressed. “As someone training on the West Coast, I’ve always wanted to meet him.”

Both Levins and Riech are setting their sights on the medal podium in 2024, with the shared goal of proudly representing Team Canada on the biggest stage and bringing home some well-deserved hardware.