A B.C. native is now a Nike-sponsored athlete.
Nelson's Matti Erickson, who competes as a track and cross-country runner while studying mathematics at the University of Oregon, has signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike. The contract allows U.S. college-based student-athletes to profit from their association with sponsors, which in Erickson's case is with one of the world's best known sports brands.
Erickson is the first Canadian athlete to sign an NIL deal with Nike, and was one of four such signings for the 2024-25 season from the Oregon Ducks. Erickson's deal will extend though the end of the 2026 academic year.
"Honestly it doesn't feel real," he said. "There's a very select few collegiate athletes who have been able to have a deal like this. ... I'm super grateful, so happy that it was able to go through. Just very, very excited for the opportunity."
Erickson said his status as an athlete with the university, which is closely tied to Nike, was key to the deal. His coach, Jerry Schumacher, is also employed by Nike. To make it work as an international student in the U.S., Erickson signed his deal with Nike Canada.
His deal isn't tied to performance incentives, which aren't allowed for what's considered an amateur athlete rather than a professional. Instead, he will receive a base salary for social media posts and event appearances, as well as using Nike-branded clothing.
NIL deals are only two years old, and were introduced following a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that college athletes should be able to profit from their likeness. In Nike's case, the deals are made with athletes who have the potential for stardom such as the WNBA's Caitlin Clark.
That should include the 21-year-old Erickson, who in June just missed out on Olympic qualifying for Team Canada with a third-place finish in the 800-metre trials.
With the Oregon Ducks this year, Erickson finished third in the 800 at the PAC-12 Track and Field Championships, second in the 400 at the Oregon Twilight, third at the Oregon Preview and first in the distance medley relay event at the Eagle Elite.
Erickson was previously named in 2019 after several years of setting provincial high school track records. In 2021 he also competed for Canada at the world under-20 championships in Kenya.
He said his next goal is to qualify for Team Canada ahead of the World Athletics Championships set to be held in Tokyo in September 2025. After that, he'll compete as a professional runner with the hopes of going to the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028.
For now, he's the first of what he expects will be more Canadian student-athletes being signed to wear the iconic swoosh symbol.
"I hope that this opens some doors for other athletes. I hope that other people see this and they're like, 'That's a potential opportunity for me.'"
