OPRO, the world’s largest manufacturer of the most technically advanced mouthguard, today announced the signing of GB Taekwondo star and double World Champion Bianca Walkden as a brand ambassador.
The announcement comes off the back of another scintillating performance from Bianca at the European Taekwondo Championships in Kazan earlier this month, where Walkden took home a silver medal and team GB finished their most successful Europeans with seven medals in total.
Bianca will join Great Britain women’s hockey Olympic gold medallist, Shona McCallin, England women’s rugby star, Danielle Waterman, and British karate world champion, Jordan Thomas as an OPRO ambassador.
Speaking on her aspirations in the coming years, Bianca commented: “There seems to be a real buzz around the sport in the UK at the moment! I’m working to be in prime position to make it to the top of the podium in Tokyo.
The partnership will foster a programme based on education and fun, with Bianca utilising OPRO’s extensive network within secondary schools, to visit schools in an effort to continue to build the profile of the sport in the UK.
Bianca added: “For me, it really is still about inspiring that next generation. By 2020 our aim is to have 100,000 more girls moving through sport. I see our sport, in particular, as incredibly entertaining and fun – with OPRO’s support in educating youngsters on how they can take part in a safe way, I think we can really drive participation levels in the coming years.
The school visits, which will also have the support of coaches and trained volunteers are all part of a greater push from OPRO to make sport safe through their innovative mouthguards.
OPRO Chief Executive Officer David Allen commented: “We are very much looking forward to working with Bianca as she builds up to the Olympics in 2020. She’s an incredible talent and we hope to be able to work with her to not only help her achieve her goals in the sport but to also boost the profile of taekwondo as a whole.”
With OPRO having announced their partnership with the UFC last year, and further partnerships in place with the likes of England Boxing, GB Taekwondo, as well as the German, French and Italian Mixed Martial Arts Federations, Bianca will be key in engaging, educating and inspiring people across combat sports.
About OPRO
Founded 20 years ago by dentist Dr Anthony Lovat, OPRO is the world’s most technically advanced mouthguard company and a leading pioneer in oral protection. Through the development and deployment of cutting edge technology and the use of innovative design and production methods, OPRO has been at the forefront of protecting the safety of athletes at all levels, across a range of different sports, for more than two decades.
The family owned and run company is based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and all products are designed and manufactured within the UK, and available worldwide through a network of retailers and distributors.
OPRO is the official mouthguard partner of a number of professional sporting organisations including the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), England Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, Australia Rugby, 11 AVIVA Premiership Rugby teams, GB Taekwondo, England Hockey, England Boxing, and the German, French, Italian, Cameroonian and Northern Ireland Mixed Martial Arts Federations.
All OPRO mouthguards are legally CE certified and in 2007 the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation in recognition of its ground-breaking work in the field of oral protection.
For more information, visit OPRO.com, OPROMouthguards.com, and follow OPRO on Facebook, on Twitter, or contact [email protected].