TAG Heuer
·TAG HEUER CELEBRATES INSPIRING RUNNERS OF THE 2014 TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON AND UNVEILS A BILLBOARD
As the official timekeeper of the TCS New York City Marathon, TAG Heuer celebrated the 50,000 runners who put their physical and mental endurance to the ultimate test in Sunday’s race. TAG Heuer’s partnership with the TCS New York City Marathon brings one element of the luxury Swiss watch brands’ “Don’t Crack Under Pressure” mindset to life; recognizing the achievements of individuals who have challenged themselves to reach a goal they once thought impossible.
To celebrate the perseverance of these determined runners who personify TAG Heuer’s “Don’t Crack Under Pressure” spirit, TAG Heuer hosted an event that dominated New York City’s iconic Times Square on Saturday, November 1st. The event recognized the hundreds and hundreds of runners whose inspirational stories were submitted to TAG Heuer’s “Get Your New York On” challenge that the brand launched this summer. www.tcsnycmarathonchallenge.com.
The celebration kicked off with event host, cancer survivor, NYC marathon runner and Survivor winner, Ethan Zohn, taking center stage and sharing his own inspirational story before introducing President of LVMH Watches Worldwide, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver. Mr. Biver introduced TAG Heuer as the Official Timekeeper of the TCS New York City Marathon and commemorated the partnership by presenting a TAG Heuer Timepiece to Ms. Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO of the New York Road Runners.
Fans, spectators and runners from around the world were entertained with some authentic New York City energy, when a series of downtown street performers took center stage. Leading up to the highly-anticipated Times Square billboard reveal, featuring the winners of TAG Heuer’s “Get Your New York On” challenge, celebrity panelists and judges including Tiki Barber, Former NY Giant and Superbowl Winner, David Willey, Editor-in-Chief, Runner’s World Magazine, and TAG Heuer Brand Ambassador and Tennis Superstar, Maria Sharapova (via satellite), joined Mr. Biver on-stage for an impactful “Don’t. Crack. Under. Pressure” countdown.
Justin Michaliski and Michelle DeLucca are the winners of the contest, and as such, are featured on impactful billboards. “Michelle and Justin are an inspiration to us all as they’ve pushed themselves to an unknown limit in order to achieve something they never thought would be possible,” said LVMH Watch President, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver. “Running 26.2 miles requires resilience and willpower and TAG Heuer is thrilled to celebrate these two inspirational individuals who exemplify the brands Don’t Crack Under Pressure attitude.”
Mr. Biver congratulated the new Friends of the Brand and commemorated their journey and embodiment of the TAG Heuer “Don’t Crack Under Pressure” mentality by awarding both Michelle and Justin with engraved TAG Heuer timepieces. Olympic medalist and 2010 New York Marathon medalist, Shalane Flanagan awarded both Ambassadors with signature TAG Heuer Medals and helped further celebrate the kinship of marathon runners around the world and the inner strength that unites them.
On Sunday, November 2, 2014, as a final way to honor the athletes whose willpower and determination helped them achieve their ultimate goals; President of LVMH Watches, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver, joined President and CEO of TAG Heuer North America, Ulrich Wohn, to award the winners of both the elite and wheelchair fields with a prestigious TAG Heuer timepiece. Wilson Kipsang and Kurt Fearnley each received TAG Heuer’s classic Automatic LINK Chronograph with the brand’s exclusive ergonomic bracelet, while Mary Keitany and Tatyana Mcfadden received an elegant and feminine Aquaracer featuring a diamond dial and diamond bezel.