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Huawei brand partners with gold-winning Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Her sporting profile and passion for fitness align with brand’s increasing product focus on health and wearable fitness devices.

Huawei, the Chinese-based mobile phone and communications technology brand, has announced avpartnership with South African Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith, who wowed the country with a gold and silver medal at the recent 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The company says Smith’s “commitment to excellence, can-do attitude and inspiring nature seamlessly meld with Huawei’s vision of fitness and innovation”.

Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith has partnered with Huawei. Photo: Huawei

Smith, whose four Olympic medals make her the most decorated South African Olympian in history, announced her retirement from competitive swimming following the Paris games.

Her sporting profile and passion for fitness also align with Huawei’s increasing product focus on its health app and wearable devices which track performance and health metrics for high-level athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

A history of sport-related sponsorships

The brand has a history of sports-related sponsorships – including several of South Africa’s rugby unions, Australian rugby league team Canberra Raiders, and English Premier League club Arsenal.

“Swimming has been more than just a sport to me; it has contributed to shaping my character and has afforded me the privilege to represent my country and give back to a community that has supported me along the journey,” Smith says in a media statement.

“Partnering with Huawei feels like a natural fit because, like me, [it] is committed to excellence and innovation.

“Their focus on fitness and technology resonates with my own dedication to a healthy lifestyle and performance, and I’m excited to partner with a brand that not only leads in technology but also shares my values of perseverance and pushing boundaries.”

Adds Peter Feng, General Manager of Huawei South Africa Consumer Business Group: “This partnership brings together two champions – Tatjana in the pool and Huawei in the tech world – both committed to breaking new ground and inspiring a healthier, more stylish future for South Africans.”

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