Rolex has long been considered the king of luxury timepieces and owning one is, for many people, the ultimate symbol of status. However, over the years, some of the world’s top sports stars have taken this status symbol to the next level, by wearing a Rolex while actually competing in their chosen sport.
Last year, J.C. Coleman, a running back for the Virginia Tech Hokies, made global headlines after observers noticed him wearing a “gold Rolex” during a game. In actual fact, the timepiece turned out to be a $150 Casio G-Shock. Nevertheless, some elite sports stars have opted to wear a Rolex during competition, including the following:
Justine Henin (Tennis)
Former world number one Justine Henin won a total of seven Grand Slam titles during her career, including four French Open titles and two US Opens. Widely considered to be one of the greatest female players ever, she was known for her excellent single-handed backhand; a rarity in the women’s game.
However, Henin was also known for another unusual trait – wearing a Rolex watch on the court. While many tennis players have endorsement deals with the company, very few wear one of their watches during play, but Henin could regularly be seen wearing either a YachtMaster or a Datejust on her left wrist.
Phil Mickelson (Golf)
American golfer Phil Mickelson has certainly made his mark on the sport, winning five major championships, including three Masters titles. He is one of only 16 players in the history of the sport to have won at least three of the four majors, and is nicknamed ‘Lefty’ because he has a left-handed swing, despite being right-handed.
While on the golf course, Mickelson can often be seen wearing his favorite Rolex Cellini, giving him an extra touch of style. It is interesting to note that the timepiece Mickelson wears is manually wound, rather than automatic, so that any shocks absorbed during play do not interfere with the movement and affect its accuracy.
Eric Lamaze (Equestrian)
Eric Lamaze is an Olympic champion, having won the individual jumping event in Beijing back in 2008. He is best known for riding Hickstead, the horse he rode to Olympic gold, but has continued to enjoy success on other horses – even winning gold at the Pan American Games in 2015.
In 2011, Lamaze signed a deal with Rolex, becoming what the company likes to call a “sports Testimonee”. Since signing the deal, Lamaze has continued his horse riding career and has repeatedly been seen wearing a timepiece on his wrist during equestrian events. His preference is believed to be a Rolex Daytona with a leather strap.
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