Dutch Sprinter Dafne Schippers In Boxing Gear Is “Ready For Adventures Ahead”

Retired track and field athlete Dafne Schippers may have taken a step back from global competitions, but she has no intention of slowing down her training. Schippers, 31, got to actually enjoy a proper vacation for the first time in years—and a new sport. The athlete shared a picture of herself wearing boxing gloves, gray shorts, and a matching tank top, sparring with a trainer. “Enjoying my first ‘real’ faraway holiday after years of full dedication to the sport. Can’t say I am only relaxing, but the Buddhas and temples help balance out my body 🥊 and mind 🏯. Recharging and getting ready for the adventures ahead!” she captioned the post. Here’s how Schippers stays strong and fit.

1. Weight Training Workouts

Weight training is an important part of Schippers’ training. “I use the squat rack at least three times a week,” she told Technogym. “I can do all kinds of exercises with the rack, varying from the ‘clean’ and squats to bench presses. Strength training is extremely important for an athlete. You need power for the entire race: an explosive start, acceleration and to sustain the momentum. Technogym equipment is of excellent quality, which is necessary when you want to get the best out of yourself. All details must be correct, so the equipment you train with must meet the highest standards.”

2. Pasta Lover

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Schippers enjoys cooking delicious, nutritious foods at home. “I like to cook. It’s very good to know more about food and nutrition,” she told The Guardian. “I love Italian food most of all but all the pasta is not so healthy. But sometimes you need to eat as much as you like.”

3. Beating the Tough Girls

Schippers isn’t afraid of being stared down by other sprinters. “People do do that. But I chose not to do it myself. It’s not my style,” she told The Guardian. “I find it amusing when other sprinters do and I just smile at them and listen to music… The girls in the heptathlon are definitely more easy-going and much friendlier. The sprinters are more like gladiators but I don’t really miss the heptathlon. I like to beat the tough girls.”

4. Learning About Nutrition

Schippers adapted her diet when she started competing seriously. “I like to work with food and think about what type of food is good for an athlete so I decided to start the blog with my sister this summer,” she told The Telegraph. “I’ve definitely become more interested in eating healthily over the past year. When I was 16 I could eat anything, but now that I’m a top athlete it’s much more important to make sure I eat well. There isn’t one cuisine that stands out, as long I can have fresh food and fresh vegetables. That’s the most important thing.”

5. Training During Lockdown

Schippers continued to train during the pandemic lockdowns. “Perhaps the most important tip is to stick to your rhythm,” she told Technogym. “Eat healthily, get enough sleep and keep exercising, then you stay in balance both physically and mentally. It may be tempting for many people to hang out on the sofa and stream content but you will feel better in the end if you keep taking care of your body.”

Boxer Jajaira Gonzalez is working hard to prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and she’s clearly going all in, if her social media is any indication. Gonzalez, 27, shared pictures of herself working out on a stationary air bike, wearing a black Nike shirt and purple shorts. One snap shows the athlete flashing the peace sign for the camera. “Earned. Not Given,” she captioned the post (which is also the quote on her shirt). “You got this, bring home the gold!” a fan commented. Here’s what Gonzalez’s approach to health and training looks like.

1. Better Fighter

Gonzalez used the four-year hiatus during COVID to work on herself, inside and out. “I really missed fighting and competing. I feel happiest and most at home in the ring and I was lost without it,” she told Olympics.com. “I returned with an elevated mindset. I used to let a lot of things get to me, instead of letting them motivate me. It made me hungrier, and angry but in a good way where I can implement that into the sport. I’m a different fighter now. I fixed a lot of the mistakes that I used to make even though I was still winning, I’m a lot more technical now. I don’t just rush in and throw punches and look sloppy.”

2. Journaling For Mental Health

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Gonzalez says journaling changed her life. “I always do that and when things get tough, I also get outside and get some fresh air on my face,” she told Olympics.com. “Talking to people like my therapist also helps. I used to think it was kind of weak to do that but it helps a lot because instead of bottling things up and walking around angry or depressed, I get it out of my system. It’s all about controlling the controllables.”

3. Boxing Childhood

Gonzalez started boxing at eight years old, after her father encouraged her to try the sport. “At first I didn’t want to, I thought it was for boys,” she told Uchic. “But I pretty much had no choice so I started going- and I hated it! I would pretend to be sick so I wouldn’t have to go. But then one day a boy asked what I was doing at the gym. He said ‘girls can’t fight.’ It made me mad because I had been there longer than him, so I told my dad about it. He told the boy that I was going to spar him and gave him a couple of weeks to get ready. I beat him up pretty badly, it was no competition for me.”

4. Ready To Fight

Gonzalez is focused on her training in the run up to Paris 2024. “In order to get to Paris, these next few months are big,” she told USA Boxing. “I just have to stay consistent, disciplined and focused with everything I’ve been doing, like my therapy, my journaling, my training and allowing my body to recover as well because that plays a big part. I can’t wait to continue this journey.”

5. Olympic Dreams

Gonzalez is determined to show what she’s capable of this summer. “Only I can beat me, but I can’t mess up this second chance,” she told Olympics.com. “I have a very strong mindset and I’m very confident. I don’t feel like anyone can beat me, and I don’t feel like anyone is on my level. Converting my Youth Olympic Games gold medal into an Olympic gold medal would be a dream come true, and it’s the only thing that’s on my mind. I won’t stop until I get it.”

Ebanie Bridges, also known as “The Blonde Bomber,” has achieved incredible success in the boxing world, including her reign as the IBF bantamweight world champion. Recently, Bridges shared a video on Instagram showcasing her fiery determination in the ring, captioning it, “Talked the talk. Walked the walk. Fight mode on. 🥊 Miss smashing face, can’t wait to fight again.” From her disciplined background in bodybuilding to her dedication as a boxer, Bridges exemplifies grit, focus, and a passion for empowering others. Here’s how she balances intense training, personal growth, and her desire to inspire the next generation.

1. She Boxes

Since Bridges is a boxer, this means she’s getting a lot of benefits from the sport. The Cleveland Clinic states that boxing is a great way to burn calories. “The calories you burn during boxing can help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight. One study compared boxing training versus moderate-intensity walking in people with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 25 (which is considered having overweight/obesity). The researchers noted reductions in BMI, waist circumference and body fat percentage in the boxing group, while the walking group showed no changes.”

2. She Jumps Rope

Bridges shared this video of herself at training camp. In it, she is seen jumping rope. ACE Fitness states that jumping rope has a lot of benefits. “Jump rope workouts help the stability muscles in your lower extremity to support your joints. If you don’t include a lot of impact in your current workout, you can gradually incorporate more impact by starting with light little jumps, landing softly on your feet. When jumping rope, the upper body also gets a workout—it’s just not as strenuous, making it ideal for upper-body workout days. Be sure to keep your arms close to your body and elbows slightly bent. Also remember to remain in an athletic stance, with your shoulders back and chest lifted.”

3. She’s Disciplined

Before boxing, Bridges was a professional bodybuilder. She revealed to TalkSport that this helped with her discipline. “Bodybuilding has to be the most disciplined sport in the world. I was insane, I was crying during leg workouts because I couldn't quit, I'd be crying pushing through doing walking lunges and then squats and it was really intense. But, that mentality I had in bodybuilding with fatigue not being an option and no quit, all this kind of stuff, I took that same mindset and discipline into boxing and that's why I've risen so fast and learned so fast because I didn't make any excuses and I've given it my all.”

4. She Wants To Be A Role Model

Bridges wants to be a role model for young people. She revealed to TalkSport that she decided to become a teacher for this reason. “I also wanted to spot problem children and see kids who were at high risk to problems at home or drugs and alcohol and be able to get them while they're young and influence them into being better adults and changing their lives. That's where it stemmed from, wanting to give back. I would see their attitudes change in the classroom towards themselves and towards their lives, because of the things I taught such as positivity and self-belief in a very safe and positive environment, which is full of support.”

5. She Works With A Trainer

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In her training camp video, Bridges is seen working with a trainer. According to ACE Fitness, working with a trainer can help improve your fitness level. “Most of us work harder in the presence of others. Having a trainer by your side can provide the encouragement, energy and motivation you need to jumpstart your routine. A trainer can also help you set goals, create a plan to accomplish them and celebrate the day you reach them.”

Dutch runner Femke Bol is celebrating after winning gold in the mixed 4x400m relay. Bol, 24, shared a picture of herself wearing black shorts and an orange shirt, walking on the track. “Time to get to the start line of my second Olympic Games ✨I cannot wait to enjoy and feel the wonderful atmosphere while giving it my all on the track ❤️‍🔥This will be my schedule:

03/08 20.55 4x400 mixed FINAL

04/08 12.35 400 hurdles heats

06/08 20.07 400 hurdles semis

08/08 21.25 400 hurdles FINAL

09/08 10.40 4x400 women heats

10/08 21.14 4x400 women FINAL

Thank you for all the support, the journey to the games showed me once again how amazing the team around me is and I’m forever grateful for them 🥰,” she captioned the post. Here’s what the athlete’s training and fitness regimen looks like.

1. Hard Work

Bol works hard for her record-breaking speed. “I think that speed is not the most natural thing to me,” she told RunBlogRun. “I work hard to get more speed. But with the fatigue and the lactic, I keep thinking, what is the right pace? I think that is where my talent is. Also, in a 400 flat, what the pace should feel like. I love to go through the lactic and go deeper and go faster. Or in training, when I am full of lactic, can I do one more – when we have a lot of reps in a session. I think that is it, and I need to continue to be able to think and plan because you need a good plan.”

2. Inspired By Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Bol is a huge fan of fellow competitor Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. “It's inspirational and motivational how McLaughlin-Levrone's racing and seeing how she's raising the bar,” she told Longview News-Journal. “In all honesty a couple of years ago if you'd told me people would be running 400m hurdles in 51sec, I wouldn't have believed it, and now I'm one of them doing it. The moment you see someone doing it... there's is something in your head that thinks 'maybe I can also do it'. For sure it's something that pushes me to become better and dream better on the 400m hurdles.”

3. Training Camp

Bol trains with a large team in The Netherlands. “I train at Papendal, the National Dutch Sports Center,” she told RunBlogRun. “There is a big group, I think fourteen 400m runners. And also Ajla Del Ponte from Switzerland. So it’s a pretty nice group to be in. We train hard, a lot of tough training – some do more endurance, others more speed. It’s a big group, but training is adapted to the person. I think it’s a nice atmosphere that we train in. In the end, we’re all sore and tired, but we keep having fun. We work together and push each other on. It’s a great place to be and one of the best places in which to become one of the best athletes.”

4. Clearing Her Head

Bol has loved running since she was a young girl. “It was always a way to clear your mind and just have fun and not think too much about other things,” she told Athletics Weekly. “That’s still what I like so much about it. I have sessions I like more and I like less but I enjoy every session and mostly the lactic ones because then it really clears your mind and the only thing you can think about is the pain and how you are going to recover. I just love how you really can mentally challenge yourself so much in the sport and just let go of everything a bit by running.”

5. Loving the Journey

Bol is proud of her accomplishments. “I sometimes ask how I have achieved these things, but I do work hard for it and do so many things for it,” she told RunBlogRun. “It’s not like I click my fingers, and I get it. But still, there are a lot of other athletes who train just as hard and are not achieving these things. I do ask how I have achieved this, and I think it’s amazing. I am enjoying it a lot, which helps.”

Jutta Leerdam is heating up the ice in her workout gear. In a new social media post the Dutch speed skater shows off her amazing body during a skating session. “Back at the Olympic oval ❤️‍🔥,” she captioned the Instagram snap. “Beautiful,” commented one of her followers, while other simply left fire emojis. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.

1. Exerting Her Energy Through Sports

Jutta “did a lot of different sports as a child. I played field hockey for eight years and did gymnastics. I had so much energy,” she told Body & Fit.

2. Speed Skating

“I started speed skating because my dad really liked the sport. He wanted his children to be able to skate so we could all skate together in the winter. I really liked to see myself get better every time I went. That was the fun part for me. I enjoyed seeing my dad happy and proud of me, too,” she added to Body & Fit. “I’m focused on my fitness goals, too, making sure everything is in balance,” Jutta added. “I rely on my coach a lot. If I’m not fit enough, or good enough, I’ll find out on the ice. I don’t like to be too confident. You can lose sharpness because of it. I’m an insecure person but I let my insecurities drive me. If you’re a good athlete, you have to be insecure. You need to do better and better. Nothing is ever good enough.”

3. Balancing Protein and Carbs

When it comes to diet, Jutta strives for a balance of protein and carbs. “In the morning, I eat oatmeal and lots of fruit. It fills me up because I’m always super hungry from training. I really have to watch my protein intake. If I take too much I get too muscular. As a skater, I have to be strong but I don’t want to be too bulky,” she explains. “I see food as my energy. I need carbs. I need fat. I need everything. I eat plenty of vegetables and watch how much food I eat in general, but I wouldn’t say I have a cheat day. What really is a cheat day anyway? A burger contains animal proteins and good fats that I can use as energy. I’ll watch the saturated fats, but if I feel like it, I eat it, and I don’t feel guilty. I use the energy to train the next day,” she explained.

4. Outdoor Exercise

When she gets outside, Jutta enjoys biking.. “We cycle a lot in the summer, block training, mountain biking, hours of easy riding. That’s the conditioning part. You need a strong base condition to be able to peak at the right moment. In winter, it’s more skating, weight training, and cycling. I train twice a day. We’re off one day per week,” she said.

5. Strength Training

Jutta spends time in the gym doing strength training workouts. “I have to be strong. I need to work on conditioning, flexibility and strength to be fast and explosive on the ice. This sport is a combination of every aspect of physical fitness. Flexibility, endurance, power. If all of those things are in balance, I feel fit. I used to struggle with being skinny. I wanted to LOOK fit. I was a perfectionist. I saw fat on me and I didn’t want it. I didn’t eat much and everything was super healthy. Now, I’m eating way more to perform. I use food to improve myself as an athlete, not just for looks,” she told the publication.