Eli Lilly is partnering on Team USA’s push to help Olympic and Paralympic athletes hurdle the challenges of recovering from injury. And, with increased awareness of the program on the agenda, the drugmaker has enlisted former basketball star Shaquille O’Neal to help spread the word.
Lilly's involvement with Team USA dates back to the start of the decade: It struck an initial one-year partnership with the team in 2020, then extended the deal to secure its involvement at subsequent summer events in Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028. The partnership also encompasses the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are currently underway in Italy and serve as inspiration for a new corporate campaign from the Big Pharma.
The drugmaker’s latest link-up reinforces its role in supporting athletes between the Games, with Lilly announcing this week that it has partnered with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on the Team USA Athlete Recovery Program.
The program offers injured athletes who are on the road to recovery “the expertise, coordinated care and support to help them navigate these journeys, whether returning to sport or finding their next chapter,” Jonathan Finnoff, chief medical officer for the USOPC, said in the release.
Lilly has recruited O’Neal to help amplify the official launch of the program. The NBA Hall of Famer related the program to his own life, explaining in a statement that “as an athlete, the cameras follow you to the podium, but they don’t follow you through recovery, setbacks or the long road back.” The program “is about showing up for athletes when the spotlight fades,” O’Neal said.
The USOPC first piloted the recovery program in 2024. Through that pilot phase, the committee supported 10 Team USA athletes who collectively earned four medals, including two golds, at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
Backed by Lilly as the program's presenting partner, the USOPC plans to expand the initiative to reach more athletes over the next three years, offering support after the ongoing Winter Games in Milan Cortina and through the upcoming L.A. Summer Games.
Lilly will support those efforts by working with the USOPC to tell stories that showcase the recovery journeys of Team USA athletes and thus raise awareness of the resources available to Olympians and Paralympians.