Nick Symmonds: Track's Biggest Free-Agent

Jan 1, 2014 by Christopher Chavez

2013 World Champion silver medalist Nick Symmonds is without a sponsor for the first time in seven years as his contract with Nike expired at the end of 2013.

For the first time in 7 years I am without an apparel sponsor. Forced to workout in the nude till a deal is signed Ã°ÂÂÂÂÂÂŸÂÂÂÂÂÂ˜Â³ pic.twitter.com/FFLHNFOjV6
— Nick Symmonds (@NickSymmonds) January 1, 2014

Symmonds is no stranger to running naked as he starred in this ad for the Nike Free 5.0 wearing nothing but running shoes.

After getting his degree in biochemistry at Willamette in 2006, Symmonds joined Nike's Oregon Track Club under coach Mark Rowland. With his 1:42.95 in the 2012 Olympic final, he became the third fastest American at the 800-meter distance and already established the goal of breaking the national record in 2014.

His second most important goal for 2014 is to break the beer mile world record held by Australian Josh Harris in 5:04.9. In August 2012, Symmonds set the American beer mile record in 5:15 which led to this viral video by TMZ.

The five-time U.S. Outdoor champion at 800-meters turned 30 years old on Dec. 30. Fellow American middle distance runner Leo Manzano was 27 years old when he won a silver medal in the 1,500-meter run at the London Olympic Games. Manzano's contract with Nike expired and ran unsponsored in 2013.

Symmonds is considered the most outspoken and one of the more marketable athletes in track and field. While in Moscow, Symmonds was vocal about his stance against Russia's anti-gay laws and went on to dedicate his silver medal to his gay and lesbian friends. Known to many as an outdoorsman when he's not on the track, Symmonds wrote a guest column on Runner's World about changing gun control laws in America. The piece garnered a lot of attention and discussion outside of the track and field community as well. His most recent work was a PETA photoshoot with his pet rabbit, Mortimer.

Symmonds recently inked a deal with Cool Titles Publishing in Beverly Hills, California for a book that delves into the bullies controlling professional track and field. The book is expected to be released in 2014.

It would not come as a surprise to many if a deal was reached soon.