Jamaican Sprint Superhero Usain Bolt Visits The Legendary Maranello
Jamaican sprint superhero, world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt took a break from his training to visit the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello, Italy and experience a different kind of speed.
The World’s Fastest Man, who was at the San Siro in Milan yesterday to see the Inter-Milan football squad, has a long-standing admiration for high performance sports cars, and was clearly delighted to test some of the legendary cars of Ferrari current range.
Bolt is in Italy promoting his new PUMA collection, and took time out to visit the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello. Following a tour of the factory, he got behind the wheel of a 458 Italia and 599 GTB Fiorano.
“Taking laps in the Fiorano track was a thrill. It’s the first time I’ve had a chance to drive a Ferrari on track and it’s a dream come true,” said Usain Bolt when he had finished. ”I thought I was fast; but, these incredible cars give the word fast a new meaning. You have to respect these machines. Being here at Ferrari headquarters is a memorable experience; there’s so much history here. I’m looking forward to getting one of these cars to give me my fix for speed.”
The PUMA BOLT Collection, which Bolt wore during his trip to Maranello, features a range of apparel, footwear and accessories that the sprinter helped develop which include graphic elements representative of Bolt and his beloved Jamaica. The collection, launched in Autumn- Winter 2010, will expand in seasons to come.
PUMA, which sponsors both Usain Bolt and Ferrari, was thrilled to see two of its biggest assets in the world of sport come together. ‘Who Faster’ is one of the headline graphics of the PUMA BOLT collection and a very relevant question for this quite extraordinary occasion.
Young Female Athletes Prone to Career-Ending Knee Injuries
Advancement in Knee Ligament Repair Technology Getting Injured Athletes Back in the Game
High school freshman Nina McDonald recalls simply running for the ball during middle school soccer practice when she felt a pop in her knee, followed by excruciating pain. As she fell to the ground, she remembers thinking she would never be able to play her favorite sport again.
Unfortunately, Nina’s story is familiar to thousands of young female athletes across the country who have torn their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL). Nearly 400,000 ACL repair procedures are performed annually in the U.S.(1) Though ACL tears are more common in males, females are up to eight times more likely to tear the ligament.(2)
“Recently, there’s been an increase in young female athletes tearing their ACLs, which is the ligament responsible for knee stability and movements such as jumping, cutting and twisting,” explained Nina’s doctor, Tal David, MD, orthopedic sports medicine specialist, San Diego, CA. “This may be due to anatomic and muscular imbalance in females, coupled with increasing opportunity for young girls to play year-round, high level competitive sports such as soccer and volleyball.”
When an athlete tears his or her ACL, it can be potentially career-ending if not treated. However, a recent advancement in knee ligament repair technology is getting athletes back in the game.
Nina’s torn ACL was reconstructed using the AperFix® System, made by Cayenne Medical, a private sports medicine company in Scottsdale, AZ. AperFix is a stronger, less invasive reconstruction option for multiple types of knee ligament tears in males and females.
Traditional ACL surgery uses bone-patellar-bone grafts to reconstruct the torn ligament, which involves removing bone and tendon from the front of the patient’s knee. The AperFix System uses a shorter, stiffer soft tissue graft such as a hamstring tendon. During the procedure, AperFix is used to attach the newly reconstructed ACL at the aperture (opening) of the femoral and tibial tunnels drilled for ligament fixation. This special technique is meant to mimic the patient’s natural anatomy as closely as possible.
“The AperFix System uses a less invasive technique that offers less pain, a shorter recovery and increases knee stability for patients after surgery,” said Dr. David. “In fact, in conjunction with appropriate rehabilitation, some of my patients have been able to get back to their pre-injury level of play faster than I ever thought they could.”
Today, Nina is happy to be back playing soccer with her town club team, and plans to try out for her high school varsity team. When asked how her knee feels after surgery, Nina responded, “My knee feels really stable, and I can do everything I could do before I got the ACL surgery. Girls shouldn’t be afraid to have surgery because it can strengthen your knee. And in the end, you’ll be able to do all the sports that you love like I do.”
Chicago State University to Study Athletics Program
Chicago State University’s President Dr. Wayne Watson announced today that on August 30, 2010, Chicago State University began an 18-month, campus-wide effort to study its athletics program as part of the NCAA Division I athletics certification program.
Specific areas the study will cover are academic integrity, governance and commitment to rules compliance, and commitment to gender/equity and diversity and student-athlete well-being.
While academic accreditation is common in colleges and universities, this program focuses solely on certification of athletics programs. Following a two-year pilot project, the NCAA Division I membership overwhelmingly supported the program and its standards at the 1993 NCAA Convention. Chicago State University completed its first certification self-study in 1998. At the 1997 Convention, the NCAA Division I membership voted to change the frequency of athletics certification from once every five years to once every 10 years. Chicago State University completed its second certification self-study in 2002. Thus, the current self-study will be the third in the certification process for Chicago State. Read more
Volkswagen Celebrates 15 Years as Chicago Marathon Sponsor
Volkswagen to Mark Anniversary With Marathon Weekend Events and the Great Jetta Giveaway
Volkswagen of America announced its 15th consecutive year as the official automotive sponsorship of the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. As part of the sponsorship, Volkswagen has created the ultimate Volkswagen FanZone to help fans and runners celebrate. Marathon weekend also will serve as the Chicago debut of the all-new 2011 Jetta, including The Great Jetta Giveaway, where consumers can enter for a chance to win a two-year lease on the all-new Jetta.
“Volkswagen is proud of its longstanding sponsorship of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon which underscores the brand’s overall commitment to sports,” said Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, who is running the Marathon for the second time. “This relationship with one of the nation’s most prestigious races allows us to reach active lifestyle consumers and we look forward to showcasing the all-new 2011 Jetta for the first time in the Chicago region throughout Marathon Weekend.” Read more
The Dodge Brand Races to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
The Dodge brand is going the distance as an official sponsor of the “ING Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon.” The Dodge running team of corporate volunteers will lace up their running shoes and participate in the half marathon in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 19. In addition to being an official sponsor of the half marathon, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango will lead the way for thousands of runners as the official pace vehicle.
The Dodge running team will gear up in a Dodge Grand Caravan and leave the Detroit area on Friday, Sept. 17, and make the trek to earn their stripes in the Philadelphia Half Marathon. Running enthusiasts can check out runner profiles and training tips on the Dodge brand Facebook page.
“At the Dodge brand, we are passionate about our products, and we’re also passionate about living life to the fullest,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Running is a fun, energetic and healthy sport that reflects many of our own brand values, and participating in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is an excellent opportunity to expose our brand to the more than 1 million people who are somehow involved in or touched by the series.”
Marathon runners and attendees will be fully immersed in the Dodge brand experience with interactive mobile applications, such as Facebook and Twitter, throughout the event’s two-day Health & Fitness Expo. On site, the brand will have a display that features the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango. Dodge brand fans and marathon supporters can go along for the ride via the Dodge brand Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dodge and the Dodge brand Twitter handle (@dodge). Read more