Bandit Running’s Unsponsored Project
U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Hayward Field
To bring attention to unsponsored athletes
Photo courtesy of Bandit Running
When Bandit first debuted the Unsponsored Project in 2023, it was a bold proposition executed in an even bolder way: take unsponsored athletes and give them unbranded kits to wear on race day. In effect, highlighting them during championship meets, in a way to tell the world: “We’re here, we’re excellent, and we’re open for business.”
In 2024, 10 athletes participated in the project at US Outdoor Championships, with one securing sponsorship after event. Last year, three dozen athletes were on board at the U.S. Olympic Trials, with four signing brand sponsorships and one of them going onto the Olympics (Trevor Bassitt, 400m hurdles). This year, over 50 athletes will be supported at the 2025 Outdoor Champs on July 31 to August 3 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Bandit’s lens is focused on two athletes for the upcoming event: Ajeé Wilson’s journey from former American Record holder, 3x World Championship medalist, World Indoor, Diamond League, and 12x US Champion—to being left without a sponsor– as well as Helen Sclachtenhaufen, who ran sub-4 in the 1500M and finished 8th in the 2024 U.S. Championships.
Ajeé Wilson (photo courtesy of Bandit Running)
Helen Schlachtenhaufen (photo courtesy of Bandit Running)
Bandit’s program is unique in that it’s not asking for athletes to sign with them– it’s simply providing support to elevate the athletes themselves.
In Bandit’s view, professional running is broken, a sport where athletes are “living like pros– training, sacrificing, striving– but they’re not getting paid to do it.” Since they still need apparel and footwear to train in and race in, they end up wearing branded gear, either through their own or a gear deal with no salary. Essentially, they’re providing free marketing for big brands with nothing in return, whether they finish first or last.
Bandit’s Unsponsore Project helps athletes represent themselves, providing unbranded kits, cash support ($1,500 with no strings attached), and a release clause. Meaning, an athlete can walk away and accept a traditional sponsorship at any time, no questions asked.
Photo courtesy of Bandit Running
Photo courtesy of Bandit Running
In the end, the goal is to provide support and visibility for the athletes who need it most—those stuck in the gap between “amateur” and “pro.”
In total, each athlete receives at minimum:
To help athletes stand out, Bandit is sticking with the black tape style of branding, a symbol inspired by Nick Symmonds 2012 protest and Steve Prefontaine’s stand against the AAU.
Spectators and fans can support the effort by picking up their own apparel as part of the Unsponsored Project merch capsule, available now with 100% of the proceeds going to support athletes in the program.
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Robbe is the senior editor of Believe in the Run. He loves going on weird routes through Baltimore, finding trash on the ground, and running with the Faster Bastards. At home in the city, but country at heart. Loves his two boys more than anything. Has the weakest ankles in the game.
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