Of the 500 million citizens of the European Union, an estimated 200 million take part in sporting activities regularly. In the current Eurobarometer 334 of the European Commission, “couch potatoes” were asked for the reasons why they prefer staying at home to working out. 45% answered that they simply had no time for sports. All in a bustle, stressed out and with too much to do – this seems to be a phenomenon of our time. The truth is, however, that we have a lot more free time than any generation before us did.
The positive effects sport has on our cardiovascular system, productivity, mood and even intelligence has long been scientifically proven. With that in mind, encouraging staff to get more exercise and to work out more intensively is a win-win situation for both the company and its employees.
Memmert has been walking the path of consequently promoting sports for a good while now. In doing so, the company does not content itself with just offering sponsorship deals like the one for the Challenge Roth Triathlon and its very own team, we also integrate sporting activities and fitness in our daily business routines.
In connection with this, subscriptions in a local gym are subsidised and professionally coached running groups are organised in the lunch breaks. The employees can even spend their time on the company’s own football ground. For many years now, the Memmert triathlon team has been participating in national and international competitions – one of the members of this triumphant team is Matthias Grosser, who is training (almost) like a professional and still always does an excellent and professional job. He is a textbook example for the fact that work, physical exercise and even competitive sports can be harmonised quite well.
His coach Bennie Lindberg gives him credit for five important qualities: Passion, readiness for action, courage, talent and easiness. Discipline and self control, as well as strict adherence to timetables, other prerequisites for high athletic performance, are qualities every employer likes to find in their employees. It is no trivial matter to integrate 25 hours of training in your working week when you have a full-time job. Still, Matthias Grosser walks steady on his path since he had been infected with the virus of endurance sports at a young age.
Conquering one’s demons in the pouring rain at 15 °C is not for everyone, neither is tackling an altitude of 1,500 meters on wet and slippery roads. Matthias Grosser nonetheless proved his endurance on August 15th, 2010, when he finished his first half distance triathlon "Ironman 70.3 European Championship" in Wiesbaden, in 4 hours and 53 minutes, coming in as the 69th runner, reaching 8th place in his age group. At the same time, the competition was the first official European Cup over this distance. The entire Memmert family congratulates him and wishes the team good luck on its way to the top of European triathletes.
