ASICS Canada made a thrilling announcement on Tuesday, revealing the signing of Canadian Paralympic champion and two-time International Para Athletics champion, Nate Riech. This partnership marks a vital second for Riech, who turns into the primary Canadian Para runner to enroll in forces with the famend Jap athletic logo.
The scoop used to be shared throughout his social media platforms on Tuesday afternoon, and for Riech, it used to be a second of keen anticipation to in the end percentage this milestone. “It felt lovely superior,” Riech exclaimed, reflecting at the announcement. He even won a distinct congratulatory message from ASICS athlete and 2022 international 100m champion, Fred Kerley.
A great fit
When requested in regards to the partnership with ASICS, Riech printed that the relationship to begin with started thru Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, the Canadian girls’s 800m report holder.
“It used to be a mutual exploration procedure; Paralympic athletes steadily stumble upon demanding situations when searching for sponsorships,” Riech mentioned. “Their motto ‘Sound Thoughts, Sound Frame’ resonated with me, particularly bearing in mind my invisible incapacity. It felt like an ideal are compatible—particularly as a result of my first pair of spikes have been ASICS. Partnering with a logo I really like is in point of fact thrilling.”
Riech falls beneath the T38 game classification, the place disabilities are steadily invisible. This classification is designed for runners with cerebral palsy, and athletes on this elegance would possibly show off a slight limp whilst operating however in a different way have a stride very similar to able-bodied runners. Riech’s incapacity got here from a freak coincidence when he used to be 10 whilst enjoying golfing with buddies. A golfing ball hit him at the back of the top, inflicting a mind damage affecting the fitting facet of his frame.
Striving for excellence
As a Paralympic champion, international champion, and international report holder within the T38 1,500m match, Riech has already completed outstanding good fortune in his occupation. Alternatively, his decision stays unwavering as he continues to try upper. When requested about his motivation, Riech brazenly expressed his want to compete with able-bodied athletes and succeed in the nationwide ultimate within the males’s 1,500m on the 2024 Canadian Observe and Box Championships.
“My present motivation comes from my little brother, Max Tucker, who gained the U20 decathlon identify at this yr’s Canadian Nationals,” says Riech. “Whilst he’s proficient within the 1,500m (the general match of the decathlon), I consider I’ve an edge, and that evokes me to paintings on my velocity.”
Reflecting on his previous season, Riech admitted that, except securing the International Para identify in July, he fell wanting carrying out all of his targets. Having a look forward to 2024, he’s decided to show the tide and ship any other gold medal on the Paris Paralympic Video games.
Advocating for Para-athletes
Up till this partnership with ASICS, Riech confronted demanding situations getting sponsorships and has been a vocal recommend for better logo improve for Para-athletes. He firmly believes that whilst his tale is inspiring, it’s not distinctive. “I don’t assume my tale is all that particular,” Riech humbly said. “Now and again while you’re confronted with adversity, you wish to have to determine the next move, and for me, changing into a Paralympic athlete used to be that step.”
This partnership with ASICS aligns completely with Riech’s dedication to advancing the Para motion. ASICS stocks his imaginative and prescient of selling inclusivity and fostering expansion in Paralympic sports activities. Even if Riech has spotted a rising passion within the Paralympic motion, he believes there’s nonetheless a lot more to return. “I won way more reputation and congratulations for my victory on the International Para Athletics Championships this yr than I did all the way through Tokyo 2020,” says Riech.
At 28, Riech joins the ASICS circle of relatives, along a number of different Canadian athletes who constitute the logo, together with Natasha Wodak, Madeleine Kelly and particularly Cam Levins—an athlete whom Riech has lengthy admired. “Levins’ adventure from damage to breaking the Canadian marathon report–thrice–has been in point of fact inspiring to look at,” Riech expressed. “As somebody coaching at the West Coast, I’ve all the time sought after to satisfy him.”
Each Levins and Riech are surroundings their points of interest at the medal podium in 2024, with the shared function of proudly representing Crew Canada at the largest level and bringing house some well-merited {hardware}.
