Niki-the-rower, professional rower for the National Rowing Team who qualified this year with the men's pair for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Niki van Sprang chooses functionality when it comes to clothing. This month, in the segment "Who wears the pants?", we ask Niki van Sprang to spill the beans. "Sometimes wearing normal clothes already feels almost special."
Niki van Sprang's Career
A career that stormed into Almere at lightning speed... Niki van Sprang did not participate in sports until he was 16. He started rowing for fun at the club, but it soon became clear that Niki had talent. He wanted more! "I've actually grown more and more into my life as a rower. First in combination with my studies in America and from 2017 full-time." In 2016 he became IRA National Champion in the United States and this year he qualified with Guillaume Krommenhoek for the Olympic Games.
Fashion and Niki?
According to Niki, what clothing means to him mainly depends on the time of day: "A rowing suit must be good for rowing, cycling shorts for cycling. Of course, there is also a difference in appearance, but functionality comes first." As a top athlete, you often wear clothing from the kit around your training. For Niki, this means that for most of the year, he chooses functionality over style. "Sometimes wearing normal clothes already feels almost special." However, this does not mean that in recent years he has increasingly felt the need to look neater more often.
Clothing and Work
It should be clear that Niki could not do his work as a professional rower in a three-piece suit. After the Olympic Games, Niki went back to studying and is currently doing an internship. This requires a different outfit than during training and competition days. "Then you suddenly notice that you need something completely different from your wardrobe and it's actually time for other types of clothing. Suddenly it's not just about functional or nice, but also about neatness and what kind of image it projects."
Trends vs. Convenience
Niki doesn't think he is very trend-sensitive. When choosing clothes, it is mainly important that they are nice. "I like things and they can also be in line with the trend, but that is not necessarily the case."
If you are curious about the trends, these are the autumn/winter clothing trends for men 2021-2022
Niki van Sprang through the years
Niki says his style is difficult to describe. "I think I've become more aware of what you can achieve by putting in a little effort." And Niki has grown to enjoy putting in that effort!
Like Niki van Sprang, do you also want to choose smart clothes more often, without sacrificing comfort? Check out our collection in the shop. Timeless too. That's golden!