GU Energy Gel Signs Olympic Marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet

July 29, 2008

Berkeley, CA – GU Energy Gel is proud to announce that Olympic Marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet has entered a long-term sponsorship contract with GU as her exclusive energy gel and sports drink supplier.

Magdalena, known as "Chewy Lewy," impressed the running world at the recent women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston, leading for 24 miles by over 2 minutes. After finishing second, with a personal record of 2 hours, 30 minutes and 19 seconds, Lewy Boulet will represent the United States in the upcoming Summer Olympics in China.

It was not an easy road to the Olympics for Lewy Boulet, who was fifth in the 2004 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials with a 2:30:50.

After that heartbreaking set-back, Magda discovered a new passion when she gave birth to her son Owen. The demands of motherhood fueled her multi-tasking abilities, and she simultaneously refocused her athletic efforts, leading to her personal best performance in Boston. Just prior to the Olympic Trials, Magda set a personal record of 32:33:02 at the Stanford University Invitational 10k. Earlier in her career, she was second in the 2001 California International Marathon in Sacramento in 2:37:52. Lewy Boulet won the 2002 Pittsburgh Marathon in 2:36:48, and was second in Pittsburgh in 2003 in 2:31:38.

The sponsorship is a homecoming of sorts for Lewy Boulet, who said, “I was the Research Director for GU from 2000-2007, so I am thrilled to be back and involved with a product that I know really works. I have a unique perspective on the quality of the products and am certain that they provide a competitive advantage to me and my fellow GU-sponsored athletes.”

Holly Bennett, Senior Marketing Manager at GU, said, “We are so excited to have Magda on our team and to support her Olympic dream. She is an outstanding athlete and a warm, inspiring and charismatic person. Her experience as a runner, coach and sports nutrition expert makes her much more than a sponsored athlete; she will also make significant contributions to product development initiatives at GU.”

Given Magda’s background with GU and her proximity to the company’s Wolrdwide Headquarters, Bennett also plans to maximize the marketing potential of this special relationship. Plans include educational videos and podcasts on sports nutrition topics as well as a personal blog page designed for Magda titled “Chewy Says…”

The blog, hosted on GU’s new website www..GUenergy.com, will provide a platform for Magda to share her experiences as an elite marathoner, mother and coach.

Originally from Poland, Lewy attended Lakewood High School in Southern California and then spent two years at Long Beach City College before transferring to the University of California Berkeley. There she earned her bachelor's degree in human biodynamics and placed third in the 5000 meters at the 1997 NCAA Championships.

Magda set a 10,000-meter best of 32:41 in 2003 and went on to get a master's degree in exercise physiology from Cal State Hayward. She became a US citizen in 2001 and she is currently a full-time assistant track & field coach at the University of California, Berkeley. Magda lives in Oakland with her husband Richie Boulet and their three-year-old son, Owen.

About GU

GU Energy Gel, the original energy gel, was launched in 1994 in Berkeley, CA. To this day, GU remains the market share leader and the premium gel available to endurance athletes. GU Energy Gel, Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel and their companion electrolyte drink, GU2O, are designed to provide athletes with scientifically-proven, performance-tested nutrition. For more information about GU, log onto www.GUenergy.com.