Alexi Pappas, a former Nike athlete who competed in the 2016 Olympic Games, who is now sponsored by Champion, in Nafplio, Greece, July 17, 2021. Smaller brands are working with athletes in different ways, like giving them equity or roles in developing products, and are paying more attention to their personal stories. (Maria Mavropoulou/The New York Times)
©2019 New York Times News Service