G-Shock mania at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as top athletes vote with their wrists
Zach BlassWe’ve seen quite a collection of watches captured on the wrists of various athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, everything from Rolex, F.P. Journe, Richard Mille, and more. But I suspect if I were to poll the larger watch community, and ask which watch in your collection would you wear if you were competing, people would likely say their G-Shock watch. It’s not just the fact that these watches are less expensive then the aforementioned brands, it’s equally the fact that G-Shock has built its name on incredibly robust watches – notably a go-to watch for military and security personnel. Therefore it is no surprise that G-Shock is having a strong presence at the Olympics this year. Full disclosure: many, if not all, of the athletes below are ambassadors for the brand in some capacity, but I suspect they each enjoy wearing their G-Shock watches while competing.
Kevin Cordón: G-Shock DW-5600TGA-9
Guatemalan badminton player Kevin Cordón can be spotted throughout the Olympics sporting his DW-5600TGA-9, clearly distinguishable with a yellow case and bottom strap and upper shorter strap in white.
The watch has certainly had a lot of air time globally, as with each celebration the robust resin watch comes into full view.
Kei Nishikori: G-Shock x The Dial Artist Limited Edition “Crystal Jellyfish”
Arguably the most famous athlete on this list, Japanese tennis superstar Kei Nishikori has clearly gone down the rabbit-hole of our hobby. Not only is he wearing a transparent series “Casioak” GA2100SKE-7A, but a customised limited-edition variant created in collaboration with the instafamous @thedialartist.
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The limited edition of 200 pieces, now sold out, has a rainbow-splattered dial with hour indices reconfigured in a rainbow style as well. It was a really cool watch to spot on such a notable athlete, and the watch community has definitely taken notice of not one, but two, Casioak watches customised by The Dial Artist.
Kanoa Igarashi: G-Shock DW5600SKE-7
Surfer Kanoa Igarashi went to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to represent Japan, armed with a DW5600SKE-7 on his wrist.
The watch notably takes on the brand-iconic squared form, but is rendered in a clear transparent resin case and strap. Usually when you think of a skeleton watch you think of a carved out dial, but G-Shock flips the script with a fully transparent strap and case that provides a clear view of the module inside.
Aori Nishimura: Baby-G BG169M Series
A rising figure in the world of skating, Aori Nishimura can usually be spotted with a Baby-G watch while grinding a rail, knocking out a kick flip, or carving out a half-pipe.
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In terms of the specific model, she seems to switch through various colour schemes of BG169M models. As an ambassador of the brand, you will also find Baby-G branding on the underside of her skateboard. Regardless, she looks kick-ass with the Baby-G on her wrist and I have a feeling many budding skateboarders will want one for themselves. The good news: they are typically less than $100 USD to purchase.