Driving Performance.

BMW is a proud partner of the
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

BMW’s commitment to performance and striving to be the best includes partnering to support USA Swimming, USA Track & Field, US Speedskating and USA Bobsled and Skeleton. BMW has also assembled the BMW Performance Team to help Team USA athletes and help them realize their Olympic and Paralympic Dreams.

olympics
Meet the team

Powering athlete performance with BMW innovations.

BMW is using their vehicle technology and engineering to create tools that will help improve athlete performance. Most recently, they collaborated with the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation to redesign Team USA’s two-man bobsled. Engineers leveraged the principles of BMW EfficientDynamics—advanced mobility solutions that improve efficiency without sacrificing performance–to create the new bobsled. It’s constructed with lightweight carbon fiber, the same intelligent material that the electric BMW i Concept vehicles boast. Through these efforts, BMW hopes to help drive Team USA to their first Olympic Gold medal in the event since 1936.

That’s not the only innovation BMW has helped develop. A motion tracking system has been created for USA Swimming. It automatically captures the power of a swimmer’s kick and pull and then provides a performance data analysis for coaches. This new technology helps evaluate how major and minor adjustments in form and technique affect overall performance.

Meet the BMW Performance Team.

The BMW Performance Team was formed to help Team USA athletes achieve their Olympic and Paralympic Dreams. Each team member is passionate, talented and constantly striving to improve in his or her sport. And with BMW’s support, members of the BMW Performance Team will be able to focus entirely on qualifying and training for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Ricky Berens: Swimming

Olympic Swimming gold medalist Ricky Berens is a living testament to BMW’s innovation and technology. In fact, Ricky still credits BMW for saving his life in a car accident that occurred when he was younger. Since then, he has become an accomplished Olympian and the only male swimmer to win a gold medal at every key international event between 2007 and 2011. Ricky made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Olympic Games, where he won gold in the 4x200 meter relay with a world-record-breaking time of 6:58:55. He also won gold in the 2009 World Championships, 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, 2011 FINA World Championships and 2011 Duel in the Pool–establishing himself as a solid medal contender for the 200–meter freestyle in London.

Past Results show

Gold 2011 World Championships (LC) 4x200m freestyle
Gold 2010 Pan Pacific Championships 4x200m freestyle
Silver 2010 World Championships (SC) 4x200m freestyle
Gold 2009 Gold 2009 World Championships (LC) 4x100m freestyle
Gold 2009 World Championships (LC) 4x200m freestyle
Gold Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 4x200m freestyle

Accolades show

In the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, he set a new world record of 6:58.56 men’s 4x200 m freestyle relay with Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Peter Vanderkaay.
Set a world record as a member of the 800m free relay at the 2009 FINA World Championships.
Member of the American record-setting 800y free-relay team at the 2008 Big 12 Championships.

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Janet Evans: Swimming

Before competing in the 1988 Olympic Games, Janet Evans' parents promised her that if she won the Gold Medal they would buy her any car she wants. A red BMW 325i Convertible was waiting for her when she returned home. Since then, Janet has been recognized as one of the best female distance swimmers, made an appearance in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. However after a valiant effort, Janet will not be competing in the London 2012 Games.

Past Results show

Gold Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games 800m freestyle
Silver Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games 400m freestyle
Gold Seoul 1988 Olympic Games 400m individual medley
Gold Seoul 1988 Olympic Games 400m freestyle
Gold Seoul 1988 Olympic Games 800m freestyle

Accolades show

1989 recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.
Female World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine in 1987, 1989, and 1990.
In 1987, she broke the world records in the 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter freestyle events.
Set a new world record in the 400-meter freestyle event; this record would hold for 18 years until Laure Manaudou broke it in May 2006.
Until June 2007, Evans held the 1,500-meter freestyle record (set in March 1988).

Latest Updates