From NCAA to On Athletics Club

BOULDER, United States, June 21, 2024 - The Swiss sportswear brand is expanding its Global On Athletics Club team with three promising talents. Fresh from college graduation, Olivia Markezich (USA), Maia Ramsden (NZ), and Ky Robinson (AUS) are the newest members of the On Athletics Club. All three previously held NIL deals with On and are now making the leap to the professional team. 

Founded in August 2020, the Boulder-based On Athletics Club Global Team is now home to 15 athletes, including Hellen Obiri, Alicia Monson, and Yared Nuguse. Training together under the watchful eyes of head coach, three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, and assistant coach Kelsey Quinn. 

Olivia Markezich (USA) is the first standout name amongst the new joiners. She represented Notre Dame during her college career, recently graduating with a master’s degree in Business Analytics. She was the 2023 NCAA Steeplechase Champion and 4th at the 2023 USA Championships. A ten-time NCAA D1 All-American, she focuses on the middle and long distances and broke her own school record in December 2023, running the 3000m distance in 8:40.42 and becoming the second-fastest runner in NCAA history. 

“I grew up playing soccer, but my older brother inspired me to start doing track & field in middle school. I started by trying high jumping and the 100m hurdles, but when I started cross country in high school, I realized my talent was in the longer distances and haven’t looked back since. I’m excited to transition into the On Athletics Club and to develop under the guidance of Dathan and the rest of the team. Being a professional athlete has been a dream of mine, and I’m super excited that On has taken the chance on me to dream together.”

The second new team member is Maia Ramsden from New Zealand. Growing up across the world, Ramsden’s running career started as part of training for triathlons. While she always favored the running part over cycling and swimming, it wasn’t until she beat nearly all the boys at the 800m in a PE class that her athletics career took off. 

“My PE teacher suggested I come down to the track after school to give athletics a go. That teacher became my first coach, and the rest is history.”

Since those initial strides, Ramsden has gone on to win the 1500m title at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming just the second New Zealander ever to win a track title at an outdoor NCAA Championship and also the second winner from Harvard since 2001. She’s also represented New Zealand at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, finishing 10th in the final. A week after her international debut, she won the NCAA Indoor mile in a meet record and has recently set the New Zealand record in the 1500m. In her final year of college eligibility, she defended her NCAA Championship title and now transitions into the On Athletics Club as a professional athlete. 

“I’m looking forward to officially becoming part of the On Athletics Club and joining the amazing athletes already part of the team. I think the brand's focus on sustainability is awesome and is definitely something that drew me to the brand during my initial NIL deal. On top of that, the performance-focused culture and truly implementing athlete feedback into product development is incredible.”

Robinson, the first-ever male collegiate athlete to sign a NIL deal with On, is the third and final new addition to the team. Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, Robinson ran for Standford University in college while attaining a Management Science and Engineering degree. At just 21, he is a two-time NCAA champion and has represented Australia at the World Championships across the 5000m distance and cross country. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, he finished sixth in the 10,000m final. He also holds the Australian indoor 5000m record with a time of 13:06.42.

On his decision to join On, Robinson said: “I chose On because of what they have built in the last few years. The dedication and care they provide to their athletes are unique, and athletes' involvement in product development highlights their desire to help them be the best they can be. The On Athletics Club has become dominant on the professional scene. I’m excited to join that group now, train alongside a hardworking group of runners, and improve daily as a team.”

Speaking on the new additions to the team, On Athlete Manager Andrew Wheating said:

“Olivia, Maia, and Ky are undoubtedly some of the most talented athletes to have emerged from the college pipeline, and for them to transition from NIL contracts to professional contracts with On speaks volumes. We’re excited to have them join the On Athletics Club in Boulder and to dream together as they begin their professional athletic careers.” 

Head coach Dathan Ritzenhein added:

“Transitioning from the world of college athletics to the professional level is always a challenge, but Olivia, Maia, and Ky have already shown their potential on the international stage, and we’re looking forward to working with them to continue to unlock their potential and help them as they navigate this transition. The team is super excited to have some fresh faces on board and has welcomed them with open arms as they begin their journey with the On Athletics Club.”

High-res images for editorial use here. (© On)

About On

On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.

On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.