Grace Tame has revealed a surprising new step in her career after parting ways with the foundation that bears her name.
Tasmanian-born Tame, who was awarded Australian of the Year in 2021 for her work advocating for victims of sexual assault, revealed on Thursday that she is now a brand ambassador for sportswear giant Nike.
The 30-year-old has long promoted the benefits of running. He has competed in numerous events, including winning the Victorian Great Ocean Road 60km ultramarathon in 2024.
Tame took to social media on Thursday to announce the new partnership.
‘I couldn’t be more excited to announce that I am officially a Nike ambassador. This has been a long time in the making.’
He thanked his manager, Lauren Miller, and said the deal “would not have been possible without her,” along with his friends, family and cousin Eloise Nairn-Smith, who founded the website Ritual Runners and whom Tame called his “coach.” and hero’.
“After initially signing with Nike three years ago, I had to leave,” Tame said.
She explained that the pressures of the “retraumatizing upheaval of 2021”, a reference to her much-publicised stint as Australian of the Year, had forced her to put her racing ambitions on hold.
Grace Tame (pictured right with Australian actress Kath Ebbs) has announced she is a brand ambassador for sportswear giant Nike.

The 30-year-old won the 2024 Great Ocean Road Victorian Ultramarathon (pictured)
‘The criticism became stronger. Deadlines were approaching. Years of anorexia and avoidant/restrictive eating disorder caught up with me. My bones broke. Something had to give. “It was devastating.”
But I defended myself. As some of you may already know, running is a fundamental part of who I am. It is more than a sport, it is a philosophy. No matter where or what I’m going through, my spirit is leveled when I’m on foot in nature.
‘It is my favorite means of escape, meditation, healing, learning and bonding with nature, myself and the community. It is also a lever for promotion and change.
‘Often when strangers approach me, I anticipate receiving some revelation (which is a gift). I’ve been surprised by how many people simply want to share their connection to running, and seeing and reading about mine has helped them forge their own path forward.
‘In addition to the obvious goal of protecting children, I have always hoped to help redefine what it means to be a survivor; to show that we are not one-dimensional. Trauma is not a black mark. Everyone has the right to dream. To run free.’
In November last year, Tame revealed he was running 100km a week and had his sights set on earning a place on the Australian Olympic team for 2028 in Los Angeles or 2032 in Brisbane.
Her last day as executive director of the Grace Tame Foundation was Wednesday.

Tame won the 60km Great Ocean Road race, but the 24km marathon was won by former Young Australian of the Year Meriem Daoui (left), a nurse who has used her racing to highlight social issues such as the need for research on childhood cancer and help for Syrian refugees

Tame said the partnership with Nike was years in the making and thanked his manager, friends and family.
The foundation issued a statement last year saying Tame would be “transitioning to a role focused on impact and advocacy” after questions arose about how the organization uses donated funds.
There were no claims that the funds had been used inappropriately, although many donors were dissatisfied that they were not informed how their money was being spent.
The foundation says it works “with political and social leaders, and helps fund leading bodies to advocate for and drive meaningful change.”
Among his achievements was a successful campaign in South Australia to change the offense of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a child” to the more accurate “sexual abuse of a child”.
The foundation had been criticized for moving away from its original purpose as a campaign vehicle to fund counseling services and legal fees for survivors of sexual abuse, which were services already offered by other more established charities.
While Tame will remain involved with her foundation on an advocacy level, she will not be involved in the day-to-day running of the charity.
This, along with her rumored split from fiancé Max Heerey, will ensure that Tame can focus on her other activities, including her newfound marathon career.
She is also a qualified yoga teacher and aspiring artist.
Tame will compete in several upcoming races, including the Surf City Marathon in Los Angeles on February 2, the Kilamanjaro Marathon in Tanzania on February 23, the Noosa Ultra-Trail on March 22, and the Hobart Marathon on April 6.