For Nike Pro-Skater Lore Bruggeman, Skateboarding Is About Community

In the lead-up to the Summer of Sport in Paris, Hypebae has teamed up with Nike to spotlight four boundary-breaking athletes as they gear up to represent their respective countries.

From taking over Britain’s Natural History Museum to winning the Belgian Skateboard Championships, Lore Bruggeman has taken skateboarding to new heights. The first installment of this Day in the Life series goes behind the scenes of her typical training routine as she holds the flag high for Belgium.

Skateboarding became an officially recognized sport by the Olympic Committee in 2016 and debuted at Tokyo 2020 — bringing together the world’s best pro skaters for a series of competitions curated by industry experts. And it was at the latter where Bruggeman made her Olympic debut at just 18 years old, competing in the Women’s Street Event.

Having recently picked up a leg injury, Bruggeman starts her day with light stretches as “A big part of being an athlete is getting hurt, but also recovering,” she explains. Born and raised in the leafy suburbs of Deerlijk, she now lives and studies in the metropolitan city of Ghent, and an essential part of her road to recovery is being in the outdoors. She sees cycling as the perfect mode of transport to experience the local greenery, giving her the opportunity to “clear my head and keep a good mental space” to kickstart her schedule.

After stopping for lunch at her local café, she picks up her skateboard and takes to Belgium’s largest outdoor skatepark, Blaarmeersen to meet up with friends and begin training. Spanning 4,000m2, with seven different areas built for in-line skaters, BMXers, and skateboarders alike, the park includes a roller derby, bowl area, and freerunning zone designed for all abilities.

“For us, skating is not all about training, it’s also about the feeling of community,” she explains. “One thing I look forward to the most is not competing and skating, but being out there with my friends.” As with any athlete, it’s the pride that comes with representing their country on the big stage that she holds in high regard. Despite not qualifying for this year's competition, she always looks to make Belgium proud with her performances and is equally excited to see skateboarding's continuing representation on the world stage.

Check out Lore Bruggeman’s Day in the Life in the video above. For more information on Nike’s athletes, visit the brand’s website.

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