World-class athletes join strongest-ever team

HOKA athlete Carolin Lehrieder runs across the wet ground

Ninety of the best triathletes, trail stars and road runners in Europe join forces with HOKA ONE ONE for the 2020 season.

Our 2020 roster promises to be our strongest yet as we add 14 athletes to the team, including a number of established stars.

Download the full list of 2020 HOKA ONE ONE EMEA athletes

German triathletes Anne Reischmann and Carolin Lehrieder, Dutch favourite Tessa Kortekaas and UK athletes George Goodwin, Elliot Smales and Thomas Davis are all partnering with the brand for the first time in 2020.

HOKA athlete Elliot Smales lifts the finish tape at IM 70.3 Staffordshire

A host of internationally-renowned athletes have also put pen to paper for the year ahead, including 2019 Transvulcania ultra-winner Thibaut Garrivier and UTMB legend Ludovic Pommeret; IRONMAN champions Joe Skipper and Emma Pallant; French triathlon stars Denis Chevrot, Arnaud Guilloux and Kevin Maurel; plus the world-famous Patrik Nilsson.

HOKA athlete Joe Skipper drinks from a water bottle

Triathlon

No fewer than 53 international- and national-class athletes combine to make up our latest triathlon stable. In addition to those listed above, existing athletes that have signed with the brand include 2019 IRONMAN Sweden winner, Boris Stein, Kona finalist, Els Visser, and 2019 IRONMAN Wales winner, Simone Mitchell.

They join current IRONMAN Hamburg title holder, Susie Cheetham, two-time Kona podium finisher, David McNamee, 2019 IRONMAN Barcelona runner-up, Laura Zimmermann, the former IRONMAN 70.3 Nice winner, Manon Genet, and the ever-lasting Eneko Llanos.

HOKA athlete Manon Genet holds a pair of Carbon X to the camera

Young talent

Our triathlon team welcomes up-and-coming Brits, George Goodwin, Elliot Smales and Thomas Davis.

For George, the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire winner: “I’ve consistently had some of the fastest runs in 70.3 races over the last season and I feel HOKA can help me make more gains in this discipline and when I move up to full distance.

“It will be a bonus to enjoy the extra cushioning when needed and switch to a more stripped back HOKA shoe for faster training sessions.”

HOKA athlete George Goodwin holds up the finish tape

Elliot, who recorded the fastest debut IRONMAN time for a British athlete at Barcelona last year, says: “I’m excited to be signing with a brand that considers the subtle differences between the needs of triathletes and runners, whilst providing great products for both.”

New additions

Another, more established British name will also be officially wearing HOKA for the first time next year.

“You only have to look at the HOKA team roster to see how many high-profile athletes are training and racing in the shoes,” says 2019 IRONMAN Lanzarote winner Nikki Bartlett, who now laces up in HOKA.

HOKA athlete Nikki Bartlett runs in the sun

“I’ve been testing HOKA shoes for about six months now, and the range of choice is incredible,” adds Bartlett, who will also aim to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games as a Guide, with Alison Peasgood.

Also teaming up with HOKA for the first time is rising German star Anne Reischmann, who, shortly after signing, said: “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity HOKA gives me as a young triathlete to be part of a team that features so many superstars in our sport!”

HOKA athlete Carolin Lehrieder runs in Lanzarote

Fellow German triathlete Carolin Lehrieder is another new addition to the HOKA team for this year. “I’m proud and excited to join the very accomplished team at HOKA,” says Lehrieder, who took top-spot at IRONMAN Italy last year.

“The variety of shoes the brand offers makes it easy to find the appropriate shoe for everyone’s individual needs. HOKA feels cushioned and comfortable, yet fast and dynamic!”

Current IRONMAN Malaysia champion Tessa Kortekaas is another athlete who will be lacing up in HOKA in 2020.

“I’m proud and happy to be part of the HOKA team and hungry to keep improving on my marathon performance,” says Tessa.

“For sure, 2020 is going to be an exciting year and I will be fully focused on the IRONMAN World Champs in Hawaii. There it’s going to be my #timetofly.”

HOKA athlete Tessa Kortekaas ties up her shoelaces

Trail

We have also bolstered our trail team for 2020, increasing our stable of athletes to 25 off-road runners across EMEA. New members of the team include German athlete Andreas Schindler and ultra-trail specialist Peter van der Zon from the Netherlands.

Schindler and van der Zon join an impressive list of trail athletes who have either re-signed with the brand for 2020 or continued on multi-year deals. Such stars include last year’s TDS winner Audrey Tanguy, former UTMB champ Ludovic Pommeret, French national team runner Nicolas Martin as well as the in-form Thibaut Garrivier, who finished second in the most recent CCC race.

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier crosses the line first at Transvulcania

Ahead of another big year, Garrivier says: “I’m really happy to re-sign with the HOKA family for 2020. My schedule will include some big marathon-distance events earlier on in the year, like Zegama and Mont-Blanc, but I’ll also be taking my learnings from ultra-trail into the Ourea 250km and CCC at UTMB – a perfect way to enjoy the whole HOKA range!”

Road

Featuring athletes who specialise in half marathon, marathon, cross country and track disciplines, our HOKA EMEA road team boasts 11 high-performance stars from the UK, France and Germany.

Spearheaded by the likes of 2:12 marathoner Benjamin Malaty from France and 2:16 marathon runner Frank Schauer from Germany, the HOKA road team incorporates several established road runners who continue to boost the brand’s reputation.

HOKA athlete Andrew Douglas stands with arms folded

One  athlete who continues to do just that is the current Mountain Running World Cup holder, Andrew Douglas, who re-signs for 2020.

“It’s been a real privilege to be supported by HOKA over the past few years, so it was a no-brainer for me to re-sign for 2020,” said the Scottish-based Douglas.

“I’ve been a big fan since I wore my first pair of Cliftons back in 2015, and HOKA have impressed me each time they bring out their innovative new designs and grow their range, which as someone who dabbles in road, cross country, trail as well as my main discipline of mountain running, it’s greatly appreciated to have such a variety to benefit from!”

HOKA athlete Boris Stein holds up the finish tape

Download the full list of 2020 HOKA ONE ONE EMEA athletes

Photo credits: James MitchellPEIGNÉE VERTICALE, Jacky Everaerdt (Activ’Images), Getty, Tyler Shaw and Huw Fairclough

High-profile athletes join star-studded team for 2019

HOKA athlete Marie Perrier crosses the line with the flag of Mauritius

Host of high-profile athletes sign on the dotted line to join star-studded HOKA team for 2019. 

Leading triathletes David McNamee and Susie Cheetham (UK), Anja Ippach (Beranek) and Nils Frommhold (Germany), and Denis Chevrot (France) have joined the team for the year ahead, while the acquisition of French trail-running stars Audrey Tanguy amd Marie Perrier adds further strength to our trail roster.

Download the full list of 2019 HOKA ONE ONE EMEA athletes

Our European athletes delivered the best-ever year for HOKA ONE ONE in 2018, with 106 victories and 183 podium finishes across road, trail and triathlon. With more strength and depth added across all disciplines, it promises to be another boundary-breaking year.

Triathlon

More than 39 international and national-class athletes now make up our impressive team of triathletes for 2019.

Rejoining the triathlon stable this year are UK talents Emma Pallant (pictured below ©James Mitchell) and Joe Skipper, German sensation Boris Stein (pictured bottom of the page ©Peignée Verticale), leading French athletes Manon Genet, Charlotte Morel and Cyril Viennot, popular Swede Patrik Nilsson, Italian Alessandro Degasperi and Spanish athletes Saleta Castro, Enneko Llanos and Emilio Aguayo.

HOKA athlete Emma Pallant crosses the line at 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Barcelona

Teaming up with HOKA from January 2019 is IRONMAN UK champion and two-time IM World Championships bronze medalist, David McNamee.

“It’s been incredible to feel my legs fresher than usual after hard workouts.  This, with the brand’s desire to continually improve, has me looking forward to the years ahead.” David McNamee

The 30-year-old from Scotland, who also finished second at the IM 70.3 Barcelona last year, has run sub 2:50h marathons in all four of his Kona appearances and clocked the third-fastest time (8:01:09) in Kona history in 2018.

“I’m really excited to start my partnership with HOKA,” says David (pictured below ©James Mitchell).

“Having tested the shoes over the past months, it’s been incredible to feel my legs fresher than usual after hard workouts.  This, with the brand’s desire to continually improve, has me looking forward to the years ahead.”

HOKA athlete David McNamee in the pool

Fellow Briton Susie Cheetham is another marquee signing who brings a wealth of talent and experience.

“Several of my heroes have had some of the best ever IRONMAN run performances wearing HOKA, and I’m incredibly excited to play my small part in such a superstar team.” Susie Cheetham

Susie has competed at the last four IM World Championships and has six podium finishes at various IM events to her name. She has no fewer than five victories over IM 70.3 distance and has recorded an IM marathon time of 3:00:47.

HOKA athlete Susie Cheetham profile picture

“Having trained in HOKA ONE ONE for some time now, I really love how my body has responded to the shoe,” explained Susie.

“Several of my heroes have had some of the best ever IRONMAN run performances wearing HOKA, and I’m incredibly excited to play my small part in such a superstar team.”

Breaking boundaries

Two high-profile German triathletes are partnering with us for the first time. Former IM 70.3 European champion, Anja Ippach, boasts five IM event wins and a fourth-place finish at Kona, and has made HOKA her footwear choice this year.

HOKA athlete Anja Ippach

“HOKA stands for innovative shoes and we share the same mindset of daring to push boundaries,” says Anja (pictured above ©Martin Rehm). “It’s great to have a shoe partner who believes in me and who helps me to run faster, further and longer. It’s very much ‘Time to Fly’.”

Joining his compatriot within the HOKA ranks is Nils Frommhold. The 32-year-old has five IM wins to his name, as well as a top-six finish at Kona.

“It’s great to have a shoe partner who believes in me and who helps me to run faster, further and longer. It’s very much ‘Time to Fly’.” Anja Ippach

Another established triathlete that will run with HOKA for the first time this year is Frenchman Denis Chevrot. Denis has competed in the last four IM World Championships and has racked up an impressive nine podium finishes over IM 70.3 distance.

“I’m really happy to join a young and creative brand which is always innovating to improve its products and the performance of its athletes,” says Denis. “I am sure it will help me to run at the next level and my global results will be better. I am proud to join the HOKA family”.

Trail

In 2019, there will be more than 24 European athletes representing HOKA across national and international trail events.

The team includes existing HOKA athlete Amandine Ferrato. Amandine (pictured below ©Peignée Verticale) will be joined by exciting new additions Audrey Tanguy and Marie Perrier. Between them, they make up the top-three female trail runners in France.

HOKA athlete Amandine Ferrato in action at the 2018 Trail World Championships

Audrey rose to prominence after winning the TDS race at last year’s UTMB.

“I’m so excited to become a new member of HOKA’s family in 2019,” says Audrey. “For me, HOKA is one of the most important brands in trail running. First for research and technological advancement in trail running shoes, and secondly for all the famous athletes inside the team. I’m sure that we’ll live great adventures together in the future – in France, Europe and the United States.”

“For me, HOKA is one of the most important brands in trail running. First for research and technological advancement in trail running shoes, and secondly for all the famous athletes inside the team.” Audrey Tanguy

Former UTMB winner Ludovic Pommeret, two-time Grand Raid de la Réunion champions Julien Chorier and Andrea Huser, and Germany’s Ildiko Wermescher are also on the world-class team.

Another key new addition to our team of trail athletes is Harry Jones. The Welshman, who boasts 48,000 YouTube subscribers, has won numerous ultra-trail races across the world, including The North Face 100 in Thailand and the TransLantau 100 in Hong Kong.

HOKA athlete Boris Stein on a training run in Mallorca

Road

Split across half marathon, marathon, cross country and track disciplines, our road team will consist of 13 athletes in 2019.

The team, headlined by international marathoner Benjamin Malaty from France and German marathon champion Frank Schauer, also includes Tokyo 2020 hopeful Thea Heim (Germany) and a breadth of established UK road runners.

Download the full list of 2019 HOKA ONE ONE EMEA athletes

Photo credits: James MitchellPEIGNÉE VERTICALE, Jacky Everaerdt (Activ’Images) and Martin Rehm