Yakult Support of Swimming

Yakult (spelled ヤクルト in Japanese and pronounced 'Yakuruto') is a probiotic milk-like product made by fermenting a mixture of skimmed milk with a special strain of the bacteria Lactobacillus casei Shirota.

Yakult drinks are wildly popular in Japan and several other countries. The history of creating this bacteria can be read here.

FINA and Yakult just signed a new Official Partner agreement to extend their existing relationship. The Japanese company is now selling in 31 countries and is becoming more aggressive in additional markets around the world.

Yakult has been the FINA swim cap and women’s bib sponsor since 2005 and has provided all beverage products at the FINA World Swimming Championships. The extension of the FINA-Yakult partnership covers the FINA World Swimming Championships in 2009 and 2011 and the FINA 25-meter World Swimming Championships in 2010 and 2012.

"We are delighted to extend our partnership agreement with Yakult, a flourishing brand that is growing worldwide. FINA is happy to be associated with this success and I am sure that our athletes and officials will be once more very satisfied to find Yakult’s products at our World Championships", said FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui on this partnership renewal.


The Yakult distinctive plastic bottles are small enough to fit in an open water swimmer suit...if only the bottles were only shaped differently or, better yet, packaged in gel packs for endurance athletes.

We welcome and thank all sponsors and supporters of our global swimming community.