Eli Lilly and Company has announced an expanded multi-year partnership with the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to launch the Team USA Athlete Recovery Programme.
The initiative aims to provide elite athletes with targeted rehabilitation and holistic care for complex or extended recovery needs. As the headline partner, Lilly is supporting the programme through a strategic cycle of major events, including the Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and the LA28 Games in Los Angeles.
From pilot success to scalable support
The decision to formalise the programme follows a successful 2024 pilot phase. During the lead-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, the USOPC supported 10 athletes through the programme. This led to six of those athletes qualifying for the Games and ultimately securing four medals, including two golds.
For Lilly, the partnership is an extension of its “Official Partner in Health Equity” status with the USOPC. By focusing on the whole-person health of athletes, many of whom face career-threatening injuries, the company aims to align its story of perseverance in drug discovery with the resilience of world-class athletes.
“In sports and in science, progress is built through perseverance,” says Jennifer Oleksiw, Global Chief Customer Officer, Lilly. “Through our expanded partnership with Team USA, Lilly is supporting access to holistic long-term support that helps athletes recover and continue to chase their dreams of representing Team USA. It’s a commitment rooted in our belief that the pursuit of health is never over.”
Impact on high-performance outcomes
The programme offers a coordinated care model bridging the gap between acute injury treatment and a return to peak performance, as well as focusing on the continuity of care for athletes after their competitive careers. The resource has already proven pivotal for athletes like Paralympic champion Grace Norman and Olympic wrestler Josef Rau.
“Every Team USA athlete faces unique challenges on the road to recovery,” adds Dr Jonathan Finnoff, Chief Medical Officer, USOPC. “The programme provides the expertise, coordinated care and support to help them navigate these journeys, whether returning to sport or finding their next chapter.”
As the US prepares to host a decade of major international sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the LA28 Games, Lilly’s involvement may signal a new route for national pharma brands to build visibility through sport.
