FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Having grabbed the world's attention earlier this month by becoming the only American runner with a chance at three medals, Olympic Trials 200m champion Walter Dix has taken the first, and biggest, step of his professional career. The eight-time NCAA Champion at Florida State recently signed with the Atlanta based sport's agency Icon Management Inc. He has also entered into a record breaking deal with shoe company Nike as announced by Dix's agent Kimberly N. Holland of Icon Management Inc.

The specific terms of the deal will not be released, but Dix will be one of the premier sprinters for the shoe company at the XXIX Summer Olympic in Beijing, China.

After the completion of a stellar collegiate running career, Dix became world renown by becoming the only American to qualify for the Olympics in the 100m and 200m dashes. He won the 200m race with a Hayword Field record time of 19.86, beating 2004 Olympic Champion Shawn Crawford by five thousands of a second. The Ft. Lauderdale native also finished second in the 100m dash at the trials and will be a member of Team USA's 4x100m relay.

This spring Dix wrapped a ground-breaking collegiate career at Florida State University. Following graduation with a degree in social science, Dix helped the Seminoles win their third-straight NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. He won the 200m dash on the final day of the meet to secure the team tile for Florida State.

Called the greatest collegiate sprinter by track analyst and NCAA collegiate 100m record holder Ato Boldon, Dix's collegiate resume is unmatched. Only the second man to ever win the 200m outdoor title three times, he is tied for third in NCAA history with six individual outdoor national championships and accumulated 18 All-America honors.

On his way to being named the 2007 USTFCCCA Division I National Runner of the Year last season, Dix ran the eighth-fastest 200m time ever in the world and the NCAA record when he blazed to a 19.69 at the NCAA East Regional Championship. He also holds the American Collegiate record in the 100m at 9.93 during the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Dix' winning time in the 200m at the Olympic Trials is the second fastest in the world this year.

Dix will run his first professional race for Nike on July 22 at the DN Galan in Stockholm, Sweden. He'll open Olympic competition on August 15 with the first round of the 100m dash. The 200m race starts August 18 and the first round of 4x100m is slated for August 21.

Icon Management Inc., is a sports agency committed to raising the bar for track & field athletes. Founded in 2002, by Kimberly N. Holland, J.D., Icon creates initiatives and builds relationships that enhance its client's lives, year round, both on and off the field.

"This definitely shows where I'm at in my career. You have to be a pretty elite athlete to be in the same family as Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Tiger Woods."

"My family has been the most important part of my career. They've been with me through my entire life and I will definitely keep them close. They have been my backbone."

"It is definitely a relief to know that I will be able to provide for them after what they've done for me during the first 21 years of my life. I think it's going to be a lot easier for us to live now that I'm in this position. I feel like I've taken a lot of weight off of everyone's shoulders."

"It has been a big stress working on the negotiations and the contact, but my agent has been a tremendous help to me in that area. Now that it's done I can focus completely on running track and nothing else except performing to the best of my abilities and trying to win a gold medal at the Olympics."

Regarding Dix: "I am tremendously pleased to be working with an athlete who is as gifted as Walter. Walter is exceptional not only for what he's been able to achieve on the track, but also for his due diligence in completing his education . My staff and I look forward to nurturing his career and providing him with the support he needs to realize his potential as a star athlete."

Regarding Nike deal: "Walter Dix is a dedicated and superior athlete who embodies the spirit and reputation of the Nike brand. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship."

"We couldn't be happier for Walt and his family. What is so great is that he did it the right way by prioritizing education and getting his degree. I don't know if you'll ever see an athlete like Walter Dix ever again. In this day and age where collegiate athletes are in a rush to take the money in run, here is an elite athlete who put off going pro in order to get his degree because he believed in himself and his abilities and he knew that the offers would still be there and in the end he was right."