SAN RAMON, CA -- 24 Hour Fitness announced today that four U.S. Olympians and two Olympic hopefuls have joined Team 24 Hour Fitness in preparations for the Summer Olympics in Beijing, which take place Aug. 8-24. 24 Hour Fitness is the official fitness center sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.

Olympians Kerri Walsh (beach volleyball), Jeremy Wariner (track and field), Adam Wheeler (wrestling) and Brian Olson (judo), along with hopefuls Alicia Sacramone (gymnastics) and Adler Volmar (judo), will appear in the brand’s advertising, make promotional appearances at local clubs and develop signature workouts for members that will be available in 24 Hour clubs and on the company’s Web site.

“These inspiring athletes were selected because they share 24 Hour Fitness’ vision of making fitness accessible for everyone and know the importance of setting goals, working hard and remembering to have fun along the way,” Tony Wells, 24 Hour’s chief marketing officer, said in a company statement.

Walsh won a gold medal with beach volleyball partner Misty May-Treanor at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Wariner won two gold medals in the 400 meters and the 4x400-meter relay at the Athens Games. Sacramone has not yet qualified for this year’s Olympics but is the current U.S. national champion in the vault.

Olson, Wheeler and Volmar are also 24 Hour employees. Olson, a three-time Olympian, is a fitness manager in Fort Collins, CO. Wheeler, already an Olympic qualifier, is a personal trainer in Broadmoor, CO. Volmar, who has not yet qualified for the U.S. Olympic team but did compete in the 1996 Olympics for Haiti, is a personal trainer in Coral Springs, FL.

24 Hour has worked closely with the U. S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to plan, develop and implement its High Performance Training Center (HPTC) in Beijing. The HPTC, located at Beijing Normal University, will be a base for the U.S. Olympic Committee during the Games, offering services to include training facilities.

As part of its partnership with the USOC, which was launched in 2003, 24 Hour also offers eligible U.S. Olympic athletes and hopefuls free and reduced-rate club memberships to support them as they train in their hometowns. 24 Hour also partnered with the USOC for the 2004 Athens Games and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

In addition to its sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic team and its partnership with the USOC, 24 Hour sponsors nine national governing bodies: USA Cycling, USA Gymnastics, USA Judo, USA Softball, USA Track & Field, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo, USA Weightlifting and USA Wrestling.

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