dryrobe® makes a splash at Tokyo 2020

We’re proud to have supplied Team GB athletes again with custom-branded dryrobe® Advance change robes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

Throughout the games in Tokyo this year we were asked the same question “Did I just see someone wearing a dryrobe?”. We’re now able to reveal that a Team GB branded dryrobe® Advance was in use there!

After the success of dryrobe® Advance at Rio in 2016, we were excited to again provide change robes for the Triathlon, Swimming and Diving teams. Team GB athletes and coaches recognise the huge benefit that keeping warm both before and after competing can have on performance.

(Team GB Paratriathlete Michael Taylor)

Back in 2016, athletes had specifically requested dryrobe® change robes and Team GB got in touch with us to provide them for their water-based athletes, which we were understandably thrilled to be involved in!

A standout moment from the 2016 Paralympics saw swimmer Ellie Robinson make an impressive entrance in her dryrobe® Advance, before going on to win gold in the Women’s S6 50m Butterfly.

Despite the heat of summer in Tokyo, Team GB knew the advantage that a dryrobe® Advance could potentially give their athletes if the weather were to turn dramatically. This paid dividends on the day of the Women’s Triathlon. Typhoon Nepartak struck Tokyo in the early hours, bringing high winds and heavy rain to the course.

Ahead of the race the Team GB Women’s Triathletes Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jessica Learmonth and Vicky Holland were all keeping dry and staying warm in their dryrobe® Advance change robes. Of the drastic change in conditions, Jess Learmonth said before the race “We were meant to be wearing ice vests and then went to dryrobe®”

In a chat with The World Triathlon Podcast Alex Yee, the Team GB Triathlete who won Gold and Silver medals, spoke about the benefit this gave the girls:

“Team GB brought out these dryrobes, which are extremely big jackets/changing towels, which keep you warm in extremely cold conditions or after you’ve done an open water swim. A lot of other nations looked at us and said “Why have you brought them out?!’

But then on race day, we were using them and all of the Team GB girls had them on. That was a big statement to the rest of the nations that we’re incredibly lucky to have that support and know all our bases were being covered.”

In the race, Jess Learmonth got off to an explosive start to the swim. She covered the 1500m in a rapid time of 18:24 and led a group of seven to a 30-second lead, including Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown who went on to take silver in the event.

We’re proud to have been able to support Team GB Athletes again at the very pinnacle of world sport.