Diadora Signs Villanova Runner Marco Langon as Its First NIL Athlete
Diadora is entering the world of college athlete endorsements with its first name, image and likeness (NIL) deal.
According to the Italian sportswear brand, it has signed a new NIL partnership with Villanova junior Marco Langon.
The company said that as part of the deal, Langon and future Diadora NIL athletes will be provided with access to the brand’s Centro Ricerche Diadora (CRD) laboratory for performance testing, as well as altitude training opportunities and mentorship. Langon will also receive state-of-the-art product designed, developed and crafted at Diadora’s headquarters in Caerano di San Marco in Italy, Diadora added.
Bryan Poerner, chief executive officer of Diadora USA, said in a statement that the company “couldn’t have imagined a better person to launch the brand’s NIL program.”
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“[Langon is] a runner’s runner – incredibly driven, talented and competitive, and we’re excited to support his development by giving him full access to Diadora’s deep capabilities in athlete performance,” Poerner said.
“Ever since I decided to fully embrace this sport, there has always been a sense of family,” Langon added. “Whether it was my high school coach telling me to trust the process, my college and high school teammates pushing me to the next level, or my mom telling me I can turn my dream into reality, I have always felt that sense of family in the sport. This is what I see in Diadora.”
Langon, 20, is emerging as an exciting young distance running talents in the country. After a 2025 indoor track season capped by All-American recognition in both the 3000m and 5000m, he opened up his outdoor season on March 27 with a 3:33.38 1500m, which is the second-fastest time in NCAA history.
This new deal comes one month after Diadora released its tech-loaded Atomo Star super trainer. Poerner said at the time of the launch that the new made in Italy style is “unlike any other running shoe on the market.”
“This shoe seamlessly combines durability, function and peak performance by leveraging our most advanced technologies and superlative Italian craftsmanship,” the executive said. “It provides athletes with a snappy, responsive and highly-cushioned option for everything from long runs, to tempo runs, to a non-plated race-day shoe.”
