• September 16, 2011

Earlier this year, a couple of months back, actually, BMW announced a lineup of Olympic athletes that, together, are part of the BMW Performance Team. The athletes get funding, Bimmer technology and resources leading up to the London Olympics. There was space for one more athlete in the lineup.

Olympic hopeful Evelyn Stevens gets the spot as the 11th member of the BMW team. The automaker has category-exclusive position as Official Mobility Partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

As part of a consumer-input campaign she got the popular vote over two other prospects. Consumers voted online and at dealerships. The former Wall Streeter quit to be a competitive cyclist at the age of 25. She got more than 50% of the vote beating wrestler Henry Cejudo and rower Ursula Grobler.

Other members of the BMW Performance Team are Ricky Berens (swimming), Matt Chrabot (triathlon), Bryan Clay (track & field), Natalie Coughlin (swimming), Janet Evans (swimming), April Holmes (Paralympic track & field), Jonathan Horton (gymnastics), Clay Johnson (sailing), Sanya Richards-Ross (track & field), and Mallory Weggemann (Paralympic swimming).