ABOUT US

what we we strive for

Contest Athletics is built for people who train with purpose. We know the real work happens when no one’s watching, from early mornings, late nights, and everything in between. That’s why our gear is made for those who show up every day. We focus on:

function-first design

Clean, strong designs. Oversized fits.

Premium materials

100% organic cotton. Durable, breathable, and built to last.

Sustainability

We don’t cut corners. Organic fabrics, ethical production.

Consistency

We build timeless staples, not seasonal drops. Outfits you can rely on, session after session.

DID YOU KNOW

We make a donation to UK mental health charities with every purchase.

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OUR MISSION

At Contest Athletics, we back athletes who back themselves. We believe the real contest isn’t just physical, it’s mental. Through training, discipline, and belief, we help athletes of all levels unlock strength, focus, and a stronger mindset. Our mission is to support those who show up for themselves daily, not just to win, but to grow, evolve, and lead from within.

OUR FOUNDERS

TIM WILSON, CO-FOUNDER

Resilience wasn’t optional for Tim Wilson; it was the only way forward. A former reconnaissance soldier in the Yorkshire Regiment, Tim spent four years immersed in the rhythms of military life. He trained relentlessly across Canada, Estonia, and the UK, constantly pushing for more, aiming higher, seeking purpose. By the time his service ended, he had earned formal commendation for his discipline and professionalism. But that moment didn’t feel like an ending. It felt like the start of a new kind of war, one without structure, without mission, without backup. Tim lost his father to alcohol abuse while still serving, just 23 years old and navigating military life, grief, and silence. It was ablow that split the floor beneath him. There was no manual for mourning while staying mission-ready. For a long time, he didn’t process the pain. “I didn’t even train consistently after that, I didn’t know how to move forward”. That period was filled with darkness, emotionally numb, directionless, and barely keeping afloat. But what brought him back wasn’t an epiphany. It was the gym. One rep at a time. One choice at a time. Training became a lifeline, not for aesthetics, but for survival. It gave him rhythm, identity, and control. Later, it became a connection point with his son, offering structure and pride where emptiness once lived. In 2025, alongside lifelong friend and fellow veteran Nathan Potter, Tim co-founded Contest Athletics, a gym wear brand rooted in the real battles people fight every day. “I didn’t just want to build a brand. I needed to build a message, something that reaches people who are struggling in silence. People weighed down by grief, stress, anxiety, or burnout. This is for the ones who feel like they're barely holding on. We see you. And we built Contest for you. ”Contest isn’t about flexing on social media. It’s about resilience. Not perfection, persistence. It honours history not to dwell on the past, but to inspire the present. The brand draws from historic battles like The Battle Of The Somme, not for aesthetics, but for the mindset it took to endure. Because everyone is fighting something - anxiety, depression, grief, doubt, and identity. And Contest stands for those people. People who keep turning up, who back themselves. “This is for the ones still standing in the fire, not because it’s easy, but because they refuse to quit.”

NATHAN POTTER, CO-FOUNDER

After nine years in the British Army - including a deployment to Afghanistan with the Royal Logistics Corps - Nathan Potter knew what it meant to push through pain. He understood discipline, discomfort, and doing what needed to be done, no matter the cost. But nothing prepared him for what came after. When the uniform came off, the structure disappeared with it. The mission - the purpose - was gone. What was left was a storm in his own head, and no playbook to fight it. He battled quietly. Anxiety. Identity. The weight of things you don’t talk about. What kept him steady wasn’t therapy or talking - it was movement. The gym became his escape - and eventually, his healing. Training gave him something the outside world couldn’t: control. A sense of progress. Stillness, even in the middle of chaos. But every time he stepped under a barbell or pushed through a tough set, the gear didn’t match the effort. It felt cheap. Disposable. Fake. That didn’t sit right - because what he was fighting for was real. Especially now, as a father. His little girl became the biggest reason to stay grounded, to stay healthy, to stay here. She gave him a reason to fight differently - not on the battlefield, but inside himself. To be a better man, not just a stronger one. To build something that meant more than muscle. So in 2025, alongside fellow veteran and lifelong friend Tim Wilson, Nathan co-founded Contest Athletics - a brand born not out of ego, but out of survival. Contest isn’t for the spotlight. It’s for the early mornings when your head’s not right. For the silent reps that get you through the day. For anyone who’s been through something - and trains anyway. This brand is rooted in the kind of strength no one sees. The kind you build when you’re rebuilding yourself. The kind that shows up, even when it hurts. Nathan’s mission is personal: To make gear that feels like it belongs in the real grind - durable, heavy-duty, and honest. To build a brand that reflects mindset, not image. To remind people that the real contest isn’t with others - it’s with yourself. Because for Nathan, this isn’t just a business. It’s a promise - to his daughter, to his brothers-in-arms, and to anyone who trains to stay standing.