TRIATHLETE IGOR AMORELLI: ‘MY PARENTS HAVE INSPIRED ME NEVER TO GIVE UP’

Triathlete Igor Amorelli from Brazil is a Peptan ambassador – he takes a dose of Peptan collagen peptides every day before bedtime – and a master of long distances.

In this article he shares some views on sports and nutrition – and how his parents have inspired him to never give up.

When was your first triathlon?

‘My first triathlon was at the end of 2004, I was 20 years old. What aroused my interest was that I had watched an event and seen everything involved: the athletes, the race, the competition. I got really interested and ended up getting involved myself, and starting to train.’

Can you tell us about your training program?

‘I train every day. It varies from two to six or seven hours a day. Some days, the training sessions are longer and heavier, other days, my program is lighter and I focus on recovery. In fact, most of the time I am not training, but resting. It’s a 24-hour job. Even when I’m not swimming, biking or running, I need to stay focused on other important aspects. Such as eating well, resting for the next workouts, sleeping the right amount of hours, and working on sports recovery : stretching, massage, ice, boots. Of course, I also have a few hours for relaxation every day. I like going to the beach or resting at home. Every 15 days, I have a day off to rest.’

What about Nutrition? Are collagen supplements part of your routine?

‘Nutrition is a vital part of this. For example, taking Peptan collagen peptides every day aids my recovery. This is extremely important, as one of the worst things that could happen to me would be to have to stop training due to injuries. This is one of the most important reasons why I take Peptan.’

Do you get nervous or tense before a race, or if you’re struggling to meet your schedule?

‘From my first competition to this day, I always get a little anxious. It’s part of the game. It’s a good feeling, it gets you ready to compete. Yes, I can get stressed about giving up training sessions or having to change a plan. This is something I’m working on. I like to do everything very well and since we have a lot of things to do besides training, you have to figure out how to manage it all.’

How long do you normally prepare to be in top condition for a big event or to set a new personal record?

‘Usually, the peak is from the middle to the end of the year. I train all year for a specific competition, and we spend three months just focusing on that. Of course, I enter other competitions, but the focus is always on that one event.’

How does your family feel about your being a professional athlete?

‘My family has always been very involved in sports and with high-performance athletes, so they are used to it. They like it and they give me all the support I need from them. I’m privileged.’

In an earlier interview with us, you mentioned that your parents are your biggest example. In what way?

‘My parents started from scratch and did a lot for our family. I want to follow the same path. To be a fighter and persistent. Since I was little, I saw them going through difficult times, and they never gave up; they always fought hard and worked hard. That’s an inspiration for me. I sometimes look at them and think, ‘If they haven’t given up, I’m not going to give up.’

How does taking Peptan collagen peptides affect you as an athlete?

‘For triathletes, supplementation is key. For me, a daily dose of collagen peptides is absolutely vital for my recovery. For athletes like myself, this is extremely important, as one of the worst things that can happen is to have to stop training due to injuries. This is one of the most important reasons why I take Peptan. I like to take it at the end of the day, before bed. I think that works best for me: going to sleep and letting it work on my body at night, while I rest for the next day.’

Learn more about Peptan collagen peptides and how people like Igor use them to stay healthy and fit

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