Brothers on Land, Competitors on Water - Two Brothers, One Dream
They are each other’s best sparring partners. At the same time, they are each other’s closest competitors. For Philip and Nikolaj, their careers as elite athletes began at an early age when the brothers started kayaking at Hellerup Kayak Club. They were quickly captivated by the strong sense of community and the competitive spirit among the paddlers.
Nikolaj Bryde
19 years old
Has been kayaking for 7 years
Elite athlete for 4 years
Among his achievements are victories at Olympic Hopes in 2019 and 2021, and a 3rd place at the European Championships in 2023
Photo credit: Ilya Podpolnyy
Photo credit: Philip Bryde
Philip Bryde
20 years old
Has been kayaking for 9 years
Elite athlete for 8 years
Philip is a member of the Danish national team and achieved a 13th-place finish at the Senior World Championships in 2021
It was Philip’s hairdresser, a family friend, who kick-started his career by taking him out on the Øresund for the first time. Philip was only 12 years old, but he was quickly hooked on the sport. Later, Nikolaj followed in his footsteps.
However, Nikolaj was not entirely convinced at first when, on a cold and windy winter day, he sat down in a kayak heading toward the high waves. He decided to try his hand at football, fencing, and boxing, but quickly had to throw in the towel. On a warm summer day, he gave kayaking another chance and had to admit that none of the other sports could compare. That was how kayaking became the brothers’ shared passion.
Today, kayaking has become Nikolaj and Philip’s full-time occupation. They complete 12-14 training sessions per week, spread across six days. A training session consists of at least one hour of paddling, running, or strength training. A typical day starts early, with training on the water, followed by meals and recovery, then strength or running sessions, and once again food and recovery. On some days, the brothers even complete a third session in the late afternoon. Sundays are rest days with extra focus on recovery
Especially during the high season, when the Nordic Championships (NM), European Championships (EC), World Championships (WC), and the Olympics are on the calendar, it can be difficult to find time for anything other than training, eating, and sleeping. It can also be challenging to maintain motivation:
“For me, it’s important to spend time with friends outside the sport and go out to have some fun or grab a beer once in a while. You can quickly become so absorbed in training that you burn out.” – Nikolaj Bryde.
One of the decisive factors that allows Philip and Nikolaj to pursue their passion full-time is having sponsors like Innologic on their team:
“I have to say that the sponsorship from Innologic means almost everything. It’s a sport where finances are something everyone struggles with. Even though I’m on the national team, we pay for the trips we go on ourselves. So having Innologic as a sponsor makes it possible for me to do this full-time. It’s absolutely crucial when, like me, you dedicate the next two years to giving it everything you’ve got. Many athletes need to have a job on the side just to afford practicing the sport. That makes everyday life very pressured, leaving room for nothing but work and kayaking. Having Innologic as a sponsor means that I can pursue kayaking as seriously as I do.” – Philip Bryde.
The reason Innologic has chosen to sponsor the two young elite athletes is equally clear:
“Innologic has chosen to enter into these two sponsorships because our company shares values with the two young elite athletes: We strive to continuously improve and to be at the very top when measured against our competitors. This constant pursuit requires hard work every day, but it brings great satisfaction when everything comes together. In addition, kayaking – like us – is a relatively small niche player among many larger players. For kayak athletes, this means there is limited financial support for equipment, training camps, competition stays, and fees from the kayak club, the Danish Canoe and Kayak Federation, or Team Denmark. It is therefore absolutely necessary for kayak athletes to have sponsors to compete at the very top.” – David Westergaard, CEO of Innologic.
Photo credit: Philip Bryde
When asked what makes kayaking so great, the brothers are quick to mention the strong social relationships and the competitive element – the constant desire to be at the front of the field. These two elements are clearly reflected in their relationship with each other:
“There will always be competition between us. But at the same time, we want the best for each other. When we’re out on the water, and the race is about to begin, then we’re not brothers – we’re competitors. But as soon as we’re finished, we’re brothers again. Then we say ‘good race’ and talk about how it went.” – Nikolaj Bryde.
Both brothers are highly competitive and results-oriented. One of the things that occupies their minds most this season is next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. They both dream of qualifying for the Olympics, but the road to that goal is long. That is why setting smaller milestones along the way can be helpful.
Nikolaj, in particular, reflects on the importance of celebrating small successes on the way toward the ultimate goal – Paris 2024:
“For me, the Olympics are something very big. I find it hard to fully grasp it as the goal and the dream because it’s so huge, and I’m very aware that it’s the biggest stage there is. I prefer to take small goals one at a time. Right now, my goal is the Spring Regatta. After that, it could be the World Cups, then NM or the Bagsværd Regatta, and then the European and World Championships. I prefer to take it in small steps instead of focusing on one massive goal. It can completely crush you if you don’t succeed. Making it to NM and the World Cup is also a big achievement. You have to keep that in mind. It’s about the small goals – even just getting through a training week is a goal in itself.” – Nikolaj Bryde.
For Philip, however, it is difficult not to let the Olympic dream fill everything. This becomes clear when he is asked what it is like to share his greatest passion with his brother:
“It’s amazing. One thing is that the Olympics are my first and biggest dream, but over the past few years, I’ve really thought about how special it would be to go to the Olympics with my brother. So I don’t just want to go to the Olympics – I want to go with my brother. That’s a huge driving force for me, because racing against or with your brother is definitely more special than anything else.” – Philip Bryde.
Whether the Olympic dream will become reality for the two brothers in 2024 remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the two brothers live and breathe the sport – and that is deeply admirable.