Champion Croatian rower Martin Sinković launches his own brand of nutritious oat products

Martin Sinković (Photos: Tomislav Može)

This week, world, European and Olympic champion Croatian rower Martin Sinković launched his own healthy brand of nutritious oat-based products called ROW SPIRIT at Jarun in Zagreb.

One of the most beautiful sports stories began in 1999 when Marin Sinković started his rowing career, which continues to this day. Although the whole story of years of effort, hard work, sacrifices, and a string of medals has a special shine, Martin always emphasises the beginnings themselves, which didn’t “predict” such great victories. 

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

Like everyone else, he had less “glorious” days and faced certain challenges. As a very mischievous child, he was on the verge of being expelled from the rowing club several times, and at the age of 16, he weighed 108 kg. As time went by and he achieved his first serious sports results, his awareness of the value of sports, education, support from loved ones, fulfilled life, and healthy eating also awakened.

For twenty years, he approaches every aspect of life equally: giving his all and always believing that hard work pays off. To be the best in rowing, he trains twice a day, and on days with only one training session, he fondly calls it a break.

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

“Traveling is my passion, but sometimes travel is just part of the process that needs to be completed to get to a competition, and then they are more stress than enjoyment. During such trips, when I have to change flights or rush from a plane or van to the track to assemble the boat and make it to the training, I often don’t have time to eat a quality and balanced meal. Sometimes, especially at the national rowing championship, I compete in multiple events scheduled back to back, and I don’t even have time for the medal ceremony, let alone to eat something,” explains Martin Sinković.

Manuela and Martin Sinkovic (Photo: Tomislav Može)

And so, over time and thanks to various situations he found himself in, he started thinking about a snack, or rather, a snack that would meet all the criteria of today’s busy life. He realised that it was very difficult to find food that is easy to carry, requires little preparation, is healthy, approved by reputable nutritionists, and – tasty. 

Since there was no product on the market that would meet all these criteria, he decided to seek a healthy compromise, and ROW SPIRIT is precisely that – a healthy compromise for moments when you need a healthy and delicious breakfast, snack, or just something to nibble on. “ROW SPIRIT, for me, is a story born out of personal need and continued out of pure love and enthusiasm to share with everyone what I enjoy snacking on,” concludes our celebrated Olympian.

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

ROW SPIRIT by Martin Sinković is a healthy brand focused on creating delicious and nutritious oat-based products with a mission to help people live healthier lives by offering high-quality, natural, and sustainable food.

In the ROW SPIRIT range, you can find oatmeal, as well as small ready-to-eat sweet and savory oat-based snacks. The oatmeal comes in interesting combinations of Quinoa, apple, and cinnamon; Quinoa, hazelnut, and chocolate; Chia, coconut, and apple, and soon Strawberry, coconut, and chia. 

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

The sweet snacks Muesli hearts come in flavors of Coconut; Chocolate and hazelnut; and Cranberry, cherry, and chia seeds, while the savory ones come in the combination of Tomato and basil and the flavor of Cheese.

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

Mimi Vurdelja, a nutritionist and head of health care and nutrition at the Croatian Olympic Committee, emphasises oats as the most complete food, which is considered desirable worldwide due to its excellent nutritional composition. Scientific studies show that oats, thanks to their nutritional richness, have all the necessary properties that will provide athletes, as well as those burdened with daily obligations, with the necessary energy to prepare them for intense training or a workday. In fact, the carbohydrates from oats, with the help of B-group vitamins, effectively supply the body with essential energy. The richness of complex carbohydrates and minerals such as potassium makes oats an excellent source of energy that significantly enhances athletic performance with noticeably less fatigue.

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

For athletes and all individuals exposed to significant exertion, oats are a good choice because they are an excellent source of energy and nutrients that protect the body from excessive depletion caused by physical and mental stress.

(Photo: Tomislav Može)

“Over twenty years ago, many athletes, such as kayakers, rowers, sailors, included oats in their first morning meal, sometimes enriching it with fruits and honey or berries and a spoonful of Omega-3 unsaturated fats from the sea, to ensure that they perform their training, competition, or active workday in the best possible way and be ready for new challenges. Today, the excellent offer of instant meals with oats allows for a healthy meal to be consumed during long journeys and preparations, as well as at the workplace and in student and school desks,” concludes Vurdelja.