Professional sports and alcohol - Interview with Nike Lorenz

Today we leave the field to Nike Lorenz. As a national hockey player, she has reached the sporting Olympus at the age of 24. As a professional athlete and German studies student, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. But whether it is a university party or a locker room party, Nike has a clear preference when it comes to drinking. “I could imagine toasting with a gin and tonic or sparkling wine, but would then quickly switch to my beloved Laori Tonic transfer." 

Your number one party accessory is the bottle Laori Juniper No 1 Because she definitely won't let a good party pass her by. As we all know, being there is everything. This also applies to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where Nike was also there. Will the champagne corks pop in the Olympic Village? "At the Olympic Games in Rio, there was a toast at the end of the tournament in the German house. Funnily enough, you could see that none of the athletes were used to or could tolerate alcohol consumption." Nike is no exception in professional sport. But how do athletes deal with alcohol and what significance do alcoholic drinks have in a life that is shaped by training and discipline? We spoke to Nike about this on behalf of many athletes. 

What role does alcohol play in the professional sector?
“In sports, it sometimes appears at parties or at the end of big tournaments.” However, that is the exception. “It is clear to me that I want to avoid it as much as possible because I know that it has a negative impact on my performance and recovery ability.” Nike, like her teammates, is in top shape and feels super comfortable in her athletic body. “The way things are at the moment, I would definitely describe myself as a fully-fledged helmswoman of my life.” However, that was not always the case. 

In top shape and with full control over yourself thanks to non-alcoholic drinks .

How has your life changed? 
"It almost makes me angry when I think about how much effort I wasted because of alcohol. I trained a lot back then and was hardworking, but the progress I am making now with similar effort is far greater than before. Physical development is simply held back by alcohol consumption." 

That is why Nike has formed a very clear opinion on the subject of alcohol. She has looked more closely at a healthy diet and the effects of alcohol With some shocking findings. “Alcohol inhibits your ability to recover. This hinders the principle of supercompensation, the most important principle for improving performance.  Alcohol also impairs your ability to react.  Alcohol can also cause inflammation in your body, which is something you want to avoid at all costs. But it is especially important for injury prevention.”

Sport is murder? The neurotoxin alcohol clearly causes more damage to the body. 

Why did you decide to abstain from alcohol as much as possible?
In her youth, Nike used to celebrate during intensive training phases such as the preparation for a tournament or the Bundesliga, where she largely abstained from alcohol, but when going out she liked to drink her favorite drink Gin Tonic slurped. The result was that she was “annoyed by the decision every morning and took this feeling with her into the next party nights”. So for her, it wasn’t just one crash that was needed.Rather, it was a gradual process in which she realized that she “no longer enjoyed drinking so much alcohol” and that she felt bad the next day. This led to “it becoming less over the years.” 

Can you tell us your exit strategies for typical “drinking situations”?
Nike's success proves her right. If things continue like this, the next victory celebration will soon be upon us. She is well prepared for this. "Laori is my exit strategy. However, it will never prevent you from all unpleasant situations, as these are rarely your own fault. My best exit strategy: smile away stupid comments."

Are you in the mood for non-alcoholic drinks?

Then try our non-alcoholic Gin & Tonic, just like Nike enjoys it - without a hangover the next morning, but with full flavor. Click here for the recipe This way .

Photos: Peter Bak