Earlier this week, adidas Training and Bumble – a popular dating app – teamed up, announcing their goal of eliminating “gymtimidation,” something people experience before heading to the gym for the first time. Keep reading below the fold for more details on the new relationship between adidas and Bumble.
adidas and Bumble are coming together to offer Bumble users an adidas “interest badge,” which members can then add to their Bumble profiles. Once added, other Bumble users will be able to see the badge and know that the person is interested in fitness. The hope is that when someone has the adidas interest badge on their profile, potential matches will want to train with that person.
The collaboration between adidas and Bumble is supported by research that highlights the benefits of working out with another person. adidas even went as far as to conduct their own research, finding that nearly 1 in 3 people won’t go to the gym because they feel intimidated. The reasons people feel intimidated to go to the gym include a fear of being judged, a lack of knowledge surrounding machinery, uncertainty on how to push to the next level, and no one to work out with (via adidas). Furthermore, when trying to combat these various barriers, 7 out of 10 people said that working out with a gym buddy would help them to overcome other feelings of gymtimidation.
Aimee Arana, adidas global, general manager, sportswear & training:
At adidas, we know that next-gen athletes can be pressured by negative-self talk which can form a barrier to training, so disarming these self-limiting beliefs with community-first solutions is important to us. Partnering with Bumble, a platform dedicated to creating empowering community connection, perfectly supports our mission in helping athletes of all-levels become stronger and unlock their individual training goals.
Bumble is equally excited about the collaboration, as expressed by Olivia Yu, Bumble’s global vice president of partnerships:
Everyday, people around the world come together on Bumble and Bumble For Friends to connect over shared interests and we know that physical and mental health are two of the most important. Teaming up with adidas Training for our new ‘Gym buddy’ interest badge helps encourage emotional support and empowerment as the foundation of a connection,whether it be romantic or platonic, to challenge the intimidation, or gymtimidation of showing up as you are.
If you want to add the adidas interest badge to your Bumble profile, all you need to do is open Bumble and add the “Gym Buddy” interest badge, and it’ll appear to your potential matches.
Connect the Watts’ Take
As someone who loves to work out and who used to have Bumble, I would have loved this feature. Even if you’re someone who knows what they’re doing at the gym, I think this is a fun way to spark conversation and hopefully, for some, a great way to plan a first date.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
