Kara Goucher signs contract with Skechers

Skechers is on a roll in recent weeks, between being the shoe of choice for Meb Keflezighi when he became the first American since 1985 to win the Boston Marathon, and now signing another high profile name in Kara Goucher.

Goucher, a multiple-time U.S. champ at a few different distances, and two-time Olympian, found herself without a sponsor when she and her husband moved back to Boulder, Co. and parted ways with Nike. It was announced this week that she has signed a contract with Skechers, an established company in other styles of footwear but is a newcomer to the running world.

“I am excited to be joining the Skechers Performance Division,” Goucher said in a statement. “The team is dedicated to making the best shoes possible for runners of all levels. They take direct feedback from athletes and apply it to their shoe development. Skechers Performance is willing to think outside the box in an effort to put their athletes first. I am honoured to be joining this team and I look forward to a great relationship on and off the roads.”

Goucher is 35, only a year younger than Keflezighi when he signed with the company in December of 2011. Also like Keflezighi, there have been stirrings from some corners of the running community that the 35-year-old mother may be past her prime racing years, which saw her run a personal best 2:24:52 marathon in 2011 and finish 11th in the marathon at the 20122 Olympics. Keflezighi ran a personal best to win the 2014 Boston Marathon only two weeks ago at age 38.

Finding a new sponsor after being with Nike for her entire career proved difficult. Goucher singed a contract with smaller, Portland-based women’s running apparel company Oiselle during the winter which meant most shoe companies, who also expect athletes to compete in their clothing, were no longer interested in a sponsorship contract. Skechers and Oiselle have reportedly come to an agreement with the athlete that satisfies all parties.