HOKA® Athlete, Jim Walmsley, Becomes the First American Man to Finish on Top of the Podium at the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc

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Jim Walmsley becomes first American man to win the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc ultra-trail race

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• Jim Walmsley's victory in the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc ultra-trail race makes him the first American man to win the prestigious event
• Walmsley finished the race in 19:37:43, under the course record time and becoming the third person to finish in under 20 hours

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Becoming the third person to complete the race in under 20 hours, Walmsley crossed the prestigious 106.2 mile race's finish line in 19:37:43

CHAMONIX, France, Sept. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Crossing the finish line in 19:37:43, HOKA®, a division of Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK), sponsored athlete, Jim Walmsley, became the first American Man to win the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc. Since moving to Arêches-Beaufort, France in 2022, Walmsley has been hyper-focused on his preparation for UTMB. He finished 4th at the race in 2022 and opened his 2023 ultra-trail season on the UTMB® World Series with a win at the Istria 100 by UTMB® in Croatia.

The Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc is regarded as the most prestigious and competitive ultra-trail running event in the world. The breathtaking course features over 32,687 feet of elevation gain on its 106.2 mile trail around the Mont Blanc, taking runners through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Since its start in 2003, the event has remained committed to its founding principles: surpass one's limits, play fair, and respect people and the environment.

With an average speed of 8.78 km/hour, and overall time of 19:37:43, Walmsley came in under the course record time recorded last year by Kilian Journet. He also becomes the third person to finish what is considered one of the most technical courses in the world in under 20 hours.

"Jim continues to amaze the trail running community," says Mike McManus, Director of Global Sports Marketing at HOKA. "After a 4th place finish last year, he made it his mission to arrive at the 2023 race in the best position to win. His move to the French Alps is just one example of his unwavering dedication to the sport and this race. We are honored and humbled to have him on the HOKA team."

Immediately following the race, Jim said, "Surprisingly, I battled a lot of lows throughout the night and throughout the whole race, and I'm shocked that things clicked right in the end. I feel really lucky that I got the last run and good push, and was able to hold on to the finish, because I was falling apart."

The HOKA brand's continued partnership as the Premiere Footwear and Apparel Sponsor of the UTMB® World Series is rooted in a shared mission to inspire trail athletes throughout the world, while continuing to make the sport more accessible. As a leading innovator in the trail running space, HOKA remains committed to creating best-in-class footwear and apparel products for those seeking to perform to their fullest potential on the trails and beyond.

Walmsley wore an unnamed HOKA prototype trail shoe throughout the 106.2 mile race. HOKA continues to be a leader in the technical trail footwear space, with beloved franchises including the Speedgoat, Tecton X and Mafate. Whether you are looking for a max-cushioned workhorse for easy miles, or a highly-responsive race shoe with carbon fiber propulsion, HOKA has a trail shoe for every runner. For more information on all of HOKA's trail offerings, click HERE. 

About HOKA®

HOKA® is one of the fastest-growing performance footwear and apparel brands in history. Conceived in the mountains, HOKA footwear delivers an unprecedented combination of enhanced cushioning and support for a uniquely smooth ride. Every day, HOKA pushes the innovation and design of its footwear and apparel by teaming up with a deep roster of world champions, taste makers and everyday athletes. From finish lines to everyday life, HOKA

fans love the brand for its bold and unexpected approach, and its belief in the power of humanity to create change for a better world. HOKA empowers a world of athletes to fly over the earth. For more information, visit HOKA.com or follow @HOKA. #FlyHumanFly

To learn more about HOKA, please visit hoka.com.

About Deckers Brands 

Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company's portfolio of brands includes UGG®, KOOLABURRA®, HOKA®, Teva®, and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has over 50-years of history building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com. 

HOKA Media Contacts 
Miranda Young
HOKA Global Brand Communications
miranda.young@hoka.com 

OutsidePR
HOKA@OutsidePR.com 

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