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FILA Signs German Silva, Mexican Long Distance Runner, and Announces Silva Trainer Retro

November 5, 2018

After resigning Hall of Famer Grant Hill and tennis legend Bjorn Borg, Fila has inked an endorsement deal with German Silva, a retired long-distance runner who famously captured back-to-back wins at the New York City Marathon in 1994 and 1995 wearing Fila.

During the 1994 New York City Marathon Silva recovered from a wrong turn and despite being 40 yards behind he still won. This weekend, he celebrated his upcoming 50th birthday by running the New York City Marathon with his son (who was racing for the first time).

“I am thankful that my road led me back to FILA,” said Silva in a statement. “I have always admired the brand’s legacy and values and I am excited about this partnership. It has been an honor to see my new FILA collection. It motivated me as I prepared to run the marathon with my son and it is something special for us to share.”

fila german silva son new york city marathon — German Silva and his son at the New York City Marathon. Image courtesy of FILA

Like with Grant Hill, Fila has celebrated the new signing with an apparel and footwear collection dedicated to Silva. The apparel includes tracksuits, tees, and hoodies for both men and women that flaunt the FILA/Silva logo.

Moreover, the brand has dropped an update to the original Silva Trainer, a bold ’90s design that features ever-comfortable 2A cushioning units in the heel and forefoot. Fila has even collaborated with London-based boutique Footpatrol to release three limited edition Silva Trainer builds at ComplexCon on November 4 that retailed for $140 each. The shoes will be available at Footpatrol.com soon.

“German is a fantastic ambassador for the sport and for our brand,” said Jon Epstein, President at FILA North America, in a statement. “Our athletes have always had a unique story to tell and German carved out his own path to success. His journey from humble beginnings to a premier athlete to a humanitarian and coach is inspirational, and we welcome him back to the FILA family.”

The FILA x German Silva collection is arrive at Fila.com shortly.

Let us know what you think about Fila’s latest signing in the comments below.