USA Medal Favorites Show How Success Is BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK™

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As excitement builds for the world's biggest winter sports event in February, there are two stories about athletes that already stand out.  The first is a tale of fearlessness and perseverance.  The second is one of determination and redemption.  Both are stories that show how drive and ambition are built with the power of the human spirit. Now, a new national marketing campaign recognizes these athletes and shows how their preparations for the world stage have been BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK™.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131111/CG14057-a)  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131111/CG14057-b)  

Ski jumping has always been one of the most thrilling extreme sports, but women have never been allowed to participate alongside their male counterparts at the highest level, despite having a long and rich history in the sport.  The got chocolate milk? campaign is proud of the perseverance by Women's Ski Jumping USA athletes who pushed for their rightful place in history on sport's biggest stage in Russia, 2014.

In 2010, Zach Parise scored USA's tying goal late in the final hockey game against Canada to send it to overtime.  Although Team USA went home as runners up, Parise has since dreamed of winning gold and will get a second chance in Russia.

The got chocolate milk? campaign salutes these incredible athletes and will feature them in the new BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK campaign, which debuts in early November.  Backed by Women's Ski Jumping USA and USA Hockey, the new campaign showcases what elite athletes have known for years – and what research supports: drinking lowfat chocolate milk after strenuous exercise helps athletes refuel and rebuild their bodies so they're ready to give it their all in their next workout or competition. For any athlete competing in Russia next year, recovering effectively between each intense training session can mean the difference between standing on the podium and going home empty-handed.

The dynamic new BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK print, television, online and in-store campaign features USA Hockey star Zach Parise plus Women's Ski Jumping USA athletes, Abby Hughes, Alissa Johnson, Jessica Jerome, Lindsey Van, Nita Englund, Nina Lussi and Sarah Hendrickson. They join a long line-up of elite athletes who make chocolate milk their post-workout drink of choice, such as football MVP-turned endurance athlete Hines Ward, two-time IRONMAN^® World Champion triathlete Mirinda Carfrae and members of the USA Swimming Team.

In addition, a webisode series at www.gotchocolatemilk.com shares an exclusive look at how Parise and members of the Women's Ski Jumping USA team are building up to represent their country on the biggest stage in sports.

"Our nation's brightest medal hopefuls are following what many elite athletes have been doing for years – refueling with chocolate milk," said Miranda Abney, Marketing Director at the Milk Processor Education Program, the group behind the new campaign. "Now, we want to show athletes from all sports that their personal athletic goals can be built with hard work, dedication and a recovery routine that includes chocolate milk, which is scientifically shown to help you refuel and recover after a strenuous workout."

Chocolate Milk: Built With Science                      
More than 20 scientific studies including athletes from sports spanning running, cycling and soccer support the advantages of drinking chocolate milk after strenuous exercise. As part of a regular recovery routine, it's an ideal way to help athletes refuel, rebuild and reshape with high quality protein scientifically shown to help repair and rebuild muscles. In fact, drinking chocolate milk after a tough workout could give athletes a performance edge, according to recent research. Runners ran twenty-three percent longer in the next run and saw a thirty-eight percent increase in signs of muscle building when they drank fat free chocolate milk after their run, compared to a typical sports drink.¹ Other research suggests regularly recovering with chocolate milk could help athletes tone up. Milk and milk's high quality protein has been shown to help athletes gain more lean muscle compared to drinking a carb-only or soy protein beverage, and even lose fat when compared to drinking a carb-only beverage, as part of a regular workout and recovery routine.^{2, 3, 4}

Elite athletes, coaches and serious exercisers are recognizing the benefits of refueling with lowfat chocolate milk.  Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, USA Hockey team dietitian, makes chocolate milk a staple on the training menu of his athletes. "Lowfat chocolate milk has what my athletes need to recover after tough workouts so they can train their hardest and avoid costly burnouts, which can mean the difference between winning and losing," said Ellis. "Athletes have been drinking it for years for good reason – it's a natural source of high-quality protein to build lean muscle, it has the right mix of protein and carbs to refuel exhausted muscles, plus it has fluids and electrolytes to help replenish the body."

The Official Recovery Beverage of Serious Athletes                                 
Through a variety of initiatives – and with the help of elite athletes, trainers and sports dietitians – the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK campaign will reach active adults who are serious about exercise to educate them about the importance of recovering effectively:

• As the Official Refuel Beverage of USA Hockey, Women's Ski Jumping USA, USA Swimming, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, IRONMAN U.S. Triathlon Series, Life Time Fitness Cycle Club, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation^®, the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK campaign refuels athletes at training and practices, endurance races, charity races and health clubs nationwide.
• Exclusive online training videos give an inside look at how the elite athletes of USA Hockey and Women's Ski Jumping USA are finishing strong with chocolate milk as they prepare to represent the USA in February, 2014.
• Athletes everywhere will have a chance to join Team CHOCOLATE MILK and get sponsored by creating and submitting a video that explains how they finish strong at gotchocolatemilk.com. Online votes will decide which athletes will receive a $500 sponsorship and training gear plus other free perks. For each vote cast, $1 will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
• The BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK campaign will host recovery clinics featuring leading sports dietitians and experts to inform athletes about the importance of recovery and the role that lowfat chocolate milk can play.
  

To learn more about the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK program, the science behind the recovery benefits of lowfat chocolate milk, and access exclusive training tips and videos, log onto gotchocolatemilk.com, or join the conversation on Facebook/gotchocolatemilk and Twitter @gotchocomilk.

About the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK Campaign             
The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, through MilkPEP, runs the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK Campaign, a multi-faceted program designed to educate athletes about the recovery benefits of lowfat chocolate milk after strenuous exercise.  Lowfat chocolate milk helps athletes refuel, rebuild and reshape after regular exercise – with high quality protein scientifically shown to help repair and rebuild muscles. For more information, go to www.gotchocolatemilk.com.

About Women's Ski Jumping USA             
Women's Ski Jumping USA, a 501c3 nonprofit, is the primary support organization for the U.S. National Team. With the help of a small staff and lots of generous volunteers, the organization runs the U.S. women's ski jumping program and raises the necessary funds to pay for coaching, travel, training, equipment and a junior developmental program. WSJ-USA also advocates for equality in sport and was a leader in the push to get a women's ski jumping event added to the Olympic Winter Games program. Women will be competing for the first time in the Games in 2014 in Sochi, Russia. The U.S. National Team has been ranked No. 1 in the world for the past two World Cup seasons, winning the coveted Nations Cup in 2012 and 2013. Learn More: http://wsjusa.com

About USA Hockey                  
USA Hockey Inc., was founded on October 29, 1937, and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., America's Olympic city. With a membership of more than one million players, coaches, officials and volunteers that span all 50 states, USA Hockey provides the foundation for the sport of ice hockey in America; helps young people become leaders, sometimes even Olympic heroes; and connects the game at every level while promoting a lifelong love of the sport. For more information on USA Hockey, the National Governing Body for the sport of ice hockey in America, visit www.usahockey.com.

¹ Lunn WR, et al. Chocolate milk & endurance exercise recovery: protein balance, glycogen and performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2012;44:682-691.

² Hartman JW, et al. Consumption of fat-free fluid milk following resistance exercise promotes greater lean mass accretion than soy or carbohydrate consumption in young novice male weightlifters. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007;86:373-381.

³ Josse AR, et al. Body composition and strength changes in women with milk and resistance exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2010;42:1122-1130.

⁴ McCleave EL, et al. Effects of aerobic training and nutritional supplementation on body composition, immune cells and inflammatory markers. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2011; 23:442.

SOURCE MilkPEP