 | |
| Industry | Gymnastics Apparel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Sallie Weaver |
| Headquarters | Reading, Pennsylvania |
Key people | Matt Cowan (CEO) |
| Products | Gymnastics Leotards |
| Parent | Elite Sportswear |
| Website | www |
GK Elite is an American Gymnastics apparel brand headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. [1] It is one of the world's largest gymnastics apparel companies.[ citation needed ]
GK Elite was founded by Sallie Weaver in 1981. Sallie franchised nine women-only fitness facilities and at the time tights and leotards were standard fitness apparel for women. [2] She travelled to Reading, Pennsylvania, where she established a partnership and her leotards hit production. They were sold to her clients and later to other local facilities. [2] Initially just a silent partner and investor, Sallie eventually sold her fitness faculties, bought out her partner to become a 100% owner, and moved from Connecticut to Reading. [2] She attended gymnastics competitions, setting up booths to spread the word and started giving her leotards to pro shops at gyms free of charge. The strategy worked, and GK Elite leotards became a leader in the field. [2]
GK Elite's parent company is Elite Sportswear, L.P. who also own, manufacture, and distribute swimwear brand: Dolfin Swimwear and cheerleading apparel brands: Omni Cheer and GK Cheer. [3] Elite Sportswear was acquired by private-equity Riverside Company in 2015. [1]
GK Elite sponsor national gymnastics teams including USA, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. [4] [3] They are the exclusive provider of gymnastics competition leotards and training leotards for USA Gymnastics National Team athletes. For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Team USA were provided custom-made leotards featuring 10,000 handsewn Swarovski crystals for competition. [1] [5]
They have formed partnerships with individual gymnastics including Olympic athletes Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Yul Moldauer, each of whom have designed their own signature designer leotards through GK. [3] For the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Bile's leotard was designed to replicate the quilted crisscross pattern of a Chanel handbag and Chiles to replicate Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour costumes. [1]
GK elite then offers a range of replica national team and individual signature designs via their company website and through partnerships with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Amazon. [1] [6]
GK Elite also sponsor many collegiate gymnastics teams, including Oklahoma Sooners, LSU Tigers, Florida Gators and Utah Utes. With collegiate branded leotards available for sale on their website. [7]