Germany Eight

“Nutrition is an important aspect today, especially in competitive sports. When you push yourself to the limit, you also have to give your body the opportunity to regenerate optimally. To do this, you should consume the things that your body needs and as little as possible of what it doesn't need. The right, needs-based diet is the fuel for peak physical performance and an important building block for sporting success,” says Schall in a simple formula. It is no coincidence that “Food is Fuel” is one of his most frequently used statements.

For this purpose, a concept was designed for the base in Dortmund that is based on two pillars. On the one hand, the 46-year-old nutrition expert works with base chef Peter Barkholtz, bringing in ideas, recipes and complementary products such as quinoa, freshly crushed oats or buckwheat bulgur. The breakfast offering is also complemented by particularly nutritious and wholesome bread as well as a muesli mix specially put together for the Germany Eight. There are also some additional products available to rowers that they can use directly, such as natural coconut water and cold-pressed juices. Furthermore, the new D8 ReFuelStation enables athletes to quickly mix regeneration-promoting smoothies from fresh, flash-frozen fruits and vegetables immediately after the training session.

Lighthouse project at the base in Dortmund

“The care at the base is a central element for the rowers. Athletes train here most of the year. Therefore, it makes a crucial difference if we take nutrition there to another level. At this level it is certainly unique in Germany. “This can be a lighthouse project for others,” says Schall, who is also in close contact with the athletes. “The introductory phase of the new nutritional concept was very positive with the German team winning the World Cup again. With a view to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, some aspects of the care were optimized and further improved. “We are well prepared for the coming months,” says Carsten Oberhagemann, Managing Director of Deutschland-Achter GmbH.

The new concept has also been extremely well received by athletes. “This is a great thing. In the direction of the Olympics, we're trying to get the most out of everything. The right diet can have a lot of influence and help you move forward, especially in competitive sports. With Marcus Schall we now have a great expert at hand who fully supports it. The extent of the offering is incredible and it also tastes very good. “It’s really well received by our team,” says Felix Wimberger.

The important basis of the new nutritional concept is the use of exclusively natural premium products, which are provided to the Germany Eights team by a large number of selected partners. On the one hand, they are integrated into the daily menu of the base kitchen, consumed directly by the rowers or used as supplementary supplies during training camps and competitions. “The special selection and range of products used is one of the crucial aspects of our concept,” says Marcus Schall. “On the one hand, we can consistently select the products based on their nutritional significance. On the other hand, this approach allows us to select the best products in each category without exception. Top products for top sports!”