Olympic Clothes: Made in Utah
Placing an Olympic Gold medal around an athlete's neck could be a once in a lifetime, defining moment.
And athletes want to look their best.
You've already seen some American athletes on the podium and have probably noticed their red white and blue warm up sutis.
Well, not only are those suits made in the USA, they are made in Utah.
Olympic Specialist Shelley Osterloh has the story.
Rivers West manufactured some 3,000 warm ups for Olympic and Paralympic athletes -- plus several hundred more, in a different color, for USOC
They made some very small sizes -- triple extra small and some for dwarfs who will compete in the Paralympics, and up to size 6 extra large.
Atheletes from two dozen different countries are sporting warm -up suits from Olympic sponsor and sportswear giant Adidas,
and so are Amercians.
These suits are specially designed to show off an Olympic medal.
Shannon MacMillian/USA Soccer Team: "SUPPOSEDLY THE DESIGN LINES ARE SO THAT THE MEDAL LIES RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND THERE ISN'T TOO MUCH GOING ON TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT. BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FOCAL POINT AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE BUT CLASSY AND VERY TRADTIIONAL."
Ed Moses/Team USA Swimmer: "IT FITS ME WELL. WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO IT, AND I REALLY LIKE IT. IT'S READ WHITE AND BLUE, A TRADITIONAL LOOK. A NICE POLYESTER AND I'D BE PROUD TO WEAR THIS ON TO THE STAND."
And it's also a source of pride to about 100 Utah garment workers in Manti, Utah.
A company called Rivers West was contracted by Adidas to manufacture the suits. And at a time when a lot of clothing is produced overseas, these garment workers say they're happy to produce for Amercian athletes.
Michael McGinley/Pres. Rivers West: "WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO, WHAT OUR PEOPLE DO AND IT'S MADE IN THE USA. THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD BE MADE."
Connie Alder/Embroidrey Supervisor: "I GUESS IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M A PART OF THE OLYMPICS, EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT NEVER GET TO GO TO THEM.
Shelley Osterloh, Olympic Specialist: "AND THIS IS WHAT THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES WILL BE WEARING WHEN THEY COLLECT THEIR MEDALS ON THE PODIUM, PRODUCED RIGHT HERE IN MANTI. YOU MIGHT ALSO SEE ONE OF THE BOSTON CELETICS IN THIS, OR ONE OF THE BULLS IN THIS WARM UP SUIT. RIVERS WEST ALSO PRODUCES FOR THE NBA."
This factory also manufactures clothing for Nike and Pantagonia.
This is the company's first project for Adidas, but workers hope their gold medal work will ensure that it won't be the last.
