HERSHEY, Pa., Dec. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During the lead up to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, Ice Breakers — a leading mint and gum brand from The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) — will rally fans to pursue their #UnicornMoment. The brand is dubbing #UnicornMoment, a personal accomplishment sparked by a boost of confidence to take on challenges. And with unicorns symbolizing the inner confidence of every individual to achieve their dreams, the brand created Team Unicorn — a roster of U.S. Olympic athletes and hopefuls who exude the swagger necessary to crush it no matter the circumstance.

Team Unicorn will be the ultimate inspiration for those seeking their #UnicornMoment. Whether it’s skiing their way to an Olympic gold medal in slopestyle or setting a personal high in Instagram likes, Ice Breakers mints and gum are the go-to icy boost to trigger the confidence needed to achieve greatness in any aspect of life. With the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 approaching, Ice Breakers brand invites fans to share their very own unicorn moments on social media using #UnicornMoment, and follow their favorite Team Unicorn athletes on their “break through” journeys.

“We have a unique opportunity to celebrate the unabashedly confident and bold Ice Breakers Team Unicorn athletes this winter – because they aren’t afraid to go for it and do whatever it takes to accomplish their dreams. We are honored to endorse our Team Unicorn members and their ‘break through’ unicorn-esque mentality as a source of encouragement for people to unleash their very own #UnicornMoment,” said Nathan Johnson, Brand Manager, Ice Breakers.

To celebrate upcoming “break through” moments on the snow and on the ice, Ice Breakers will leverage its relationship with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and The Hershey Company’s sponsorship of the United States Olympic Committee and Team USA to create unique activations targeted to a very engaged fan base by bringing unicorn moments to life. Throughout a series of events, Team Unicorn athletes will remind fans and consumers of their potential, by empowering them to never say “neigh” as they share their #UnicornMoment.

“Ice Breakers’ Team Unicorn is here to inspire people to be unstoppable,” said Joss Christensen, 2014 Olympic Winter Games gold medalist in freestyle skiing and member of Team USA. “We all need an icy boost to ride on and unleash the strength inside ourselves to accomplish our goals. It’s ok to be unique and that’s what Ice Breakers wants to show people.”

As a symbol of confidence and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve personal greatness, unicorns embody the ‘break through’ mentality. Team Unicorn is comprised of athletes who are young, successful and proud to be different, competing against the very best in the world, and serves as evidence that with a positive mindset, no goal is unattainable:

Joss Christensen
A 2014 Olympic gold medalist and three-time (2014, 2015, 2016) U.S. Grand Prix winner in freestyle skiing, Joss Christensen has experienced a lot more than a single #UnicornMoment. Overcoming a series of injuries, the Park City, Utah, native is as determined as ever to prove that he’s more than ready to compete at the highest level once again.

Maia & Alex Shibutani
On the heels of back-to-back U.S. championships, siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani have their sights set on PyeongChang. The Shibutani siblings have been figure skating together since 2004, at the ages of 9 and 12, respectively. They have built a résumé that includes a 2017 worlds bronze medal and 2016 worlds silver medal. They competed in the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, and they are ready to break through with their #UnicornMoment in 2018.

Jessie Diggins
With a 2017 World Championships silver and bronze medal, 2016 World Cup victories, 2015 World Championships medal, 2013 World Championship victory, eight national championships and an Olympic appearance already under her belt, Jessie Diggins has racked up the accolades in cross country skiing. Hailing from Afton, Minnesota, she’s been on skis for most of her life and hopes to achieve her #UnicornMoment and become the first U.S. Olympic women’s cross country skiing medalist.

Red Gerard
In search of his biggest #UnicornMoment, Red Gerard, 17, has the potential to be amongst the youngest members of Team USA. Gerard began snowboarding at the age of 2, and started amateur competition at 10 years of age. He’s always been ahead of the curve and now that there’s so much buzz swirling around his name, Gerard is in a position to show the world his talents.

Devin Logan
Devin Logan is committed in her attempt to build on her #UnicornMoment when she took home the silver medal in slopestyle skiing from the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. Following a knee injury in the 2012-2013 season, Logan became a certified judge for the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) to develop a better understanding of the sport — a testament to her dedication.  Along with her Olympic silver medal, Logan has captured four AFP overall titles, four X Games medals and a FIS overall championship.  Her bubbly personality and confidence allowed her to rebound from that setback and now she aspires to represent her country yet again.

Maggie Voisin
Everyone loves a great comeback story and Maggie Voisin is just that. After qualifying for the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, where she would have been the youngest athlete on the team to compete, Voisin suffered a fractured fibula during skiing practice. With the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 on the horizon, the 2017 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix winner in slopestyle and 2014 X Games silver medalist has visions of accomplishing what she didn’t in 2014 — compete in the Olympic Winter Games and break through with her #UnicornMoment.

For more information visit https://www.hersheys.com/icebreakers

About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 18,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside. Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America.

At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For more than 120 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Today, the company continues this social purpose through 'Nourishing Minds,' a global initiative that provides basic nutrition to help children learn and grow. From neighborhoods across the United States to the streets of Shanghai and Mumbai and villages of West Africa, our goal is to nourish one million minds by 2020.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is an Olympic sports organization providing leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. Established in 1905, U.S. Ski & Snowboard receives no direct government support, operating solely through private donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to fund athletic programs to assist athletes in reaching their dreams. For more information, visit usskiandsnowboard.org.

About the USOC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. As such, the USOC is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements throughout the country. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.

Contact:
The Hershey Company
Anna Lingeris | 717-534-4874 | Alingeris@hersheys.com

Ketchum Public Relations
Caterine Barfell | 646 935 4122 | Caterine.Barfell@ketchum.com
                                       
U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Samantha Gross | 435-714-0583 | Sgross@ussa.org

USOC
Jon Mason | 719-337-5392 | Jon.Mason@usoc.org