ICY HOT PARTNERS WITH NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS FOR ITS FIRST EVER COLLEGE SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

Icy Hot to Elevate Student-Athlete Performance as official Topical Pain Relief Partner of Notre Dame Athletics

Women's Basketball Star Hannah Hidalgo to Serve as Icy Hot Brand Ambassador 

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Icy Hot, America's go-to topical pain relief brand from, Opella, announced a partnership with Notre Dame Athletics, to serve as the first Official Topical Pain Relief Partner of the University's historic athletic program. The partnership – Icy Hot's first ever college athletics partnership to date – underscores Icy Hot's commitment to supporting elite student-athletes and optimizing recovery so they can achieve peak performance.

Through this exclusive partnership, Icy Hot's leading topical pain relief products, including Icy Hot Original No Mess and Icy Hot Pro Massaging Balm, will be present in the locker rooms and training facilities for all athletes across Notre Dame Athletics. These products utilize Icy Hot's contrast therapy—blending cooling and heating sensations—to aid Notre Dame student-athletes in recovery, ensuring they are physically prepared for their next competition.

"We are so excited to partner with one of the top and most storied athletic programs in the country," said Vincent Balagat, North American Icy Hot Lead at Opella. "At Icy Hot, we believe in empowering athletes at every level to recover effectively and compete with confidence – and that includes young athletes on the rise."

"We are thrilled to welcome Icy Hot into the Notre Dame Athletics family," said John Wagle, Pat & Jana Eilers Sr. Associate Athletics Director, Sports Performance. "Effective recovery is crucial to an athlete's development, and Icy Hot's commitment to innovation in pain relief will be a valuable asset in helping our student-athletes prepare to perform at their best."

In addition to its partnership with Notre Dame Athletics, Icy Hot will work with individual Notre Dame student-athletes through NIL partnerships, including women's basketball point guard Hannah Hidalgo.

"Playing at the highest-level means pushing my body to the limit every single day, and recovery is just as important as training," said Hidalgo. "Icy Hot has been a key part of my routine, helping me stay on top of my game. I'm thrilled that both Notre Dame Athletics and I are partnering with a brand that truly understands the demands of athletes and provides products that make a real difference."

This partnership builds upon Icy Hot's continued investment in athletic performance and recovery, reinforcing the brand's commitment to supporting athletes at all levels.

For more information about Icy Hot and its commitment to sports recovery, visit www.icyhot.com.

About Icy Hot^®
As America's go-to topical pain relief brand, Icy Hot^® makes powerful over-the-counter pain relief products that fuel your resilience to rise from pain. Icy Hot's extensive line of products provides fast-acting, targeted relief. Icy to dull the pain. Hot to relax it away^®. Opella, the consumer healthcare business unit of Sanofi, the makers of Icy Hot, is B Corp certified in the US. This distinction highlights the company's commitment for an inclusive and regenerative economy through its social and environmental impact. Opella believes that healthier people and a healthy planet go hand in hand.  

About Notre Dame Athletics
As it pertains to athletic and academic success, the University of Notre Dame has few peers across the nation. Sponsoring 26 varsity athletic programs, Notre Dame teams have won 37 national championships that span over 100 years of competitive excellence. The University's first national title was earned by football in 1924, led by legendary head coach Knute Rockne. The most recent trophies for the Fighting Irish were Kevin Corrigan's men's lacrosse teams completing back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. The 2023-24 season was so successful that Notre Dame claimed its third Capital One Cup in the last 11 years, joining Florida and Stanford with the most trophies ever given to the nation's best men's or women's athletic teams. Notre Dame athletic teams have produced the third-most Academic All-Americans among Division I schools and Fighting Irish student-athletes have ranked first or second among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the NCAA's Graduation Success Rating for 16 straight years.

About Notre Dame Global Partnerships
Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NGDP) manages the sales, marketing, sponsorship, multimedia rights, and branding services for the University of Notre Dame's Athletics programs. Founded in 2018, NDGP is a joint venture between JMI Sports and Legends, formed to build integrated partnerships with industry-leading partners that share the University's commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. Notre Dame's status as one of the most recognizable and iconic institutions in collegiate athletics offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with fans, students, and alumni globally. NDGP is creating new and innovative partnerships that contribute to the University's mission while also upholding its storied history and tradition.

Media Contacts

Icy Hot Contact
Ben Touger | [email protected]
Alison McCaffrey | [email protected]
Michelle Greco | [email protected]

Legends PR Contact
Stacey Escudero | [email protected]

SOURCE Icy Hot