Marta Swiatlon has always been happy to accept good tips. Regardless of whether it was sentences from her former swimming coach Florian Lampe (“The pain goes away, the pride remains”) or her mother’s (“If the others are bigger than you, then you just have to do a few more moves”) – Swiatlon quotes her with great text security.
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Meanwhile the tide has turned. Today it is the 29-year-old who is there to help and advise others. Virtual. More than 80,000 people currently follow her on her Instagram page (marta_swiatlon) and are regularly informed about what the social media manager, who grew up in Neustadt and who has lived in Bocholt for almost two years, has to say about her hobby, which is now with Bicycle manufacturer Rose Bikes has also become her profession.
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Triathlon and swimming were once upon a time: Marta Swiatlon now only uses her bike – privately and professionally.
© CLAUDIA OHMS
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A brand in its branch
Almost everything in her blog is about two-wheelers. Only occasionally can you find more personal content between the countless photos of spokes and tracks as well as videos about functional clothing. “At least now and then you can show what women actually look like without a helmet and glasses,” says the 29-year-old with a wink. Swiatlon doesn’t see herself as an influencer, “I don’t particularly like this term,” she says. But with more followers every day, whose number has now exceeded both the population of Neustadt (around 45,000, as of October 2020) and Bocholts (71,000, December 2019), Swiatlon has already become a brand in its industry.
“Working, posting and cycling. My day should actually have 48 hours, ”says the athlete. By the way, this can no longer be done on this scale for a long time. And so the German Pole is no longer establishing her social networks only privately, but as part of a self-employed activity that she now operates in addition to her permanent position in Westmünsterland.
They even train during the lunch break
And then there is also the sport, because her photos are not just a facade, but a real passion. “Everything is authentic,” assures Swiatlon. “Nothing of what I’m showing there is put on.” In 2020 she spent 10,459 kilometers on the saddle of a racing bike. “Sometimes I even use my lunch break for training,” says Swiatlon, to add with a laugh: “But I’ll probably not be an Olympic champion any more.”
She got on a racing bike for the first time at the age of 16. Until then, she had only exercised in water since she was a kindergarten teacher at SSG Nord Calenberg. “The indoor swimming pool in Neustadt was my second home,” says Swiatlon. And in Franziska van Almsick there was a great role model.
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No love affair with running
Inspired by a friend’s father, Swiatlon eventually expanded her swimming skills to include cycling and running – and switched to triathlon. But with running it didn’t become a love affair. “That was always my weakest discipline,” she says honestly. There were also wounds. “Fatigue fracture, runner’s knees, Achilles tendon problems – I’ve probably been through everything with runner injuries. On the other hand, I’ve never injured myself swimming or cycling, ”she says.
After graduating from high school, Swiatlon went to Leipzig to study sports science for seven years. And she also really increased her athletic workload off campus. “I’ve started to train more and very intensively,” says Swiatlon. 25 hours a week were not uncommon; The reward was appearances in the 2nd Bundesliga with various Saxon teams as well as sixth place in the German year-old championship in Ingolstadt and participation in the German university championship in Kleve.
Change on the fly
A year later the all-around competition was over. And as befits a triathlete, the change happened on the fly. “On Saturday I took part in the Maschseetriathlon,” reports Swiatlon. The next day she competed in her first bike race – a criterion in Zwenkau in the Leipzig district – and immediately came first in the Frauenfeld. “Even though I had only planned not to fall,” she says with a smile.
Half a year after starting out on the bike, the first post followed on Instagram – a photo from the Spain training camp. Both became more; there is no end in sight, especially in terms of the number of followers. “I have planned the 100,000 for this year,” says Swiatlon. And actually the Tour Transalp in June, which is questionable because of Corona. But Swiatlon’s personal triathlon continues like this: with work, posts and the bike.
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