Consistency is a Competitive Advantage: Carbon Plates, Speciality Retail, and Smarter Marketing with Gelindo Bordin

From marathon champion to business leader, Gelindo Bordin transformed his Olympic gold medal triumph into executive expertise, now directing innovation at Italian running brand Diadora while bridging the gap between elite performance and everyday runners.

Gelindo Bordin is the Marketing Director at Diadora, where he leads the company’s marketing strategies with a deep passion for both sports and brand development. A former Olympic gold medalist, Bordin made history as the first Italian to win the Olympic Marathon. He began his career as a mountain cross-country runner before transitioning to longer distances, debuting in the marathon in 1984 and later winning the Milan Marathon. Over the course of his illustrious career, Bordin earned an Olympic gold medal, two European titles, a bronze medal at the World Championships, and an Italian half-marathon title. He is, still, the only male to win both the Boston Marathon and an Olympic gold medal in the marathon. He won the Boston Marathon in 1990 and describes the victory as his "second greatest run, after winning the Olympics”. Retiring in 1993 after competing in 18 marathons, he now brings his wealth of experience and passion for sports to his role at Diadora, where he drives the brand’s visibility and engagement in the global market.

Jon chats with Gelindo about:

• his Olympic Marathon champion career

• product development technology innovation

• athlete sponsorship evolution

• running injury prevention focus

• how to maintain brand consistency

Stay Connected:

https://www.instagram.com/diadora/

This episode is supported by:

Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer!