dj Orthopedics Renews Sponsorship of U.S. Ski Team Members Jillian Vogtli and Mariano Ferrario

SAN DIEGO, Jan 10, 2002 (BW HealthWire) -- dj Orthopedics Inc. (NYSE:DJO), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and services for the orthopedic sports medicine market, announced today the renewal of its sponsorship contracts with U.S. Ski Team freestyle moguler Jillian Vogtli and with Mariano Ferrario, a leading freestyle aerialist.

dj Orthopedics, which sponsored Vogtli last year and Ferrario for the past two years, is extending its contract with both athletes until September 2002. Financial terms of the sponsorships were not disclosed. Additionally, dj Orthopedics is in the third year of a five-year contract as the U.S. Ski Team's designated official medical supplier and exclusive knee brace supplier.


"We are delighted to support Jillian and Mariano, as well as the entire U.S. Ski Team, and wish them success in the upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics," said Les Cross, dj Orthopedics' president and CEO.

Both Vogtli and Ferrario have missed a ski competition season due to injury. Vogtli, who underwent knee surgery during the 1999 season, said, "I'm excited to be sponsored by dj Orthopedics, because I've used the DonJoy® knee brace since my injury three years ago. It gives me the assurance I need to compete at a world-class level."


Ferrario suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while competing in the 1998 Olympics, and continues to wear DonJoy braces on both legs as a preventive measure. Vogtli and Ferrario agree that the DonJoy braces provide the support necessary for rigorous Olympic training.

Both Vogtli and Ferrario are vying for a spot on the 2002 Olympic Team to compete in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games in February. Vogtli's past accomplishments include a second place title in freestyle moguls competition at the U.S. Nationals and three freestyle moguls World Cup top 10 finishes. Ferrario's career highlights include placing 15th in the 1998 Olympics freestyle aerial competition and first at the 2000 Sprint Ultimate Airwave event.

As part of the sponsorship agreement, Vogtli and Ferrario will make appearances at several industry trade shows, including the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA) and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) conferences, both being held in June 2002, as well as at certain company events. Both athletes will also be featured in print advertisements for the company's DonJoy braces.

dj Orthopedics is a global orthopedic sports medicine company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of
surgical and non-surgical products and services that repair, regenerate and rehabilitate soft tissue and bone, help protect against injury, and treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Its broad range of over 600 existing products, many of which are based on proprietary technologies, includes rigid knee braces, soft goods, specialty and other complementary orthopedic products and its recently introduced line of surgical products. These products provide solutions for patients and orthopedic sports medicine professionals throughout the patient's continuum of care.


Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates Inc.
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dj Orthopedics Inc.
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