Art, Camera, and a Touch of Leo

Leonie Köster is probably the artistic all-rounder in the team. “I enjoy painting – simply to express both positive and negative emotions, and that comes out on the canvas,” she says. Photography also has a fixed place in her everyday life. “I used to do analog photography for a while – it has its own unique magic. Nowadays, I’m more into digital, but for me, it’s always about capturing spontaneous moments.” She also combines her passions in her studies: Leonie is studying communication and media.

And another thing stands out immediately: her fashion consciousness. “I like it wild, also colorful or leopard print,” she laughs. Does everyone find that beautiful? “Maybe not. But I like it, and that’s enough for me.” Just like with painting or photography, it’s about expressing herself here too. Authentic, bold, a bit wild – just Leonie.

Camera & Plants: When Passions Grow from Crisis Times

For Cara Bösl and Katja Orschmann, the pandemic period was not just a phase of slowing down, but also of self-discovery. “I was interested in photography from an early age – my grandpa and my dad took a lot of pictures. But it became really intense during the Corona time,” Katja recounts. As a footballer, she is used to team sports, but it was the camera that brought her a sense of peace and retreat back then. “You can completely concentrate on the picture – it pulls you out of everyday life. And ideally, you capture real, unposed moments.” Currently, Katja is planning to venture into landscape and action photography alongside portraits and detail shots. A change of perspective – in the truest sense.

Cara also discovered a new passion during the Corona time: plants. “We wanted to make our apartment nicer – that resulted in a little jungle.” With growing knowledge, her collection also grew: “Water, light, humidity – I wanted to know everything. And yes, rare plants were added too. But what remains important for me: The aesthetics have to be right – not the price.” By now, her teammates also benefit from her green thumb. “Sometimes I give away cuttings – first come, first served for a new roommate.” She has a tip for plant beginners: “Monstera is great. Don’t water too much – and occasionally put it in the shower.”

Relaxation with Needle and Thread – Fatma's Creative Timeout

Fatma Sakar sought a way to really switch off and find peace in the evenings alongside her intense football everyday life. She wanted to find something that relaxed her, cleared her head, and was also uncomplicated. About two years ago, she discovered crocheting – a hobby she learned entirely by herself through YouTube.

“It’s perfect because I can take it with me everywhere and it doesn’t need much space,” Fatma explains. Her projects are surprisingly diverse: from small crocheted animals to artistic bouquets that she even describes as small works of art. For her, crocheting is a real timeout that helps her let go of everyday life.

Fashion is an Expression of Personality

Judith Steinert is known for her presence on the field and she also likes to stand out fashionably. “I love fashion because it allows me to show who I am. It’s not about brands for me, but about expression,” she explains. Since childhood, she was allowed to wear what she felt like. Her parents consciously gave her the freedom to try herself out, and she used it: even walking down the street with a pink diving mask was for Judith an expression of early fashion independence.

Today, the defender describes her style as a mix of sporty, chic, and business. She partly draws her inspiration from football, not only from female role models: “I think male free spirits often have more interesting looks.”

“You are what you eat” – Antonia's Insight into the Inner Self

Antonia Halverkamps is dealing with a topic that often remains in the shadows in competitive sports next to football: gut health. What seems inconspicuous to many has become a true passion for her. She is particularly fascinated by how strongly the gut influences the entire immune system – around eighty percent of it is located there. “So much happens in the body that you can’t see from the outside. And yet it has a huge impact on our performance,” she says.

Since she has been delving deeper into the human microbiome and nutrition, one phrase has particularly accompanied her: “You are what you eat.” That’s why she is also considering studying in this field.

The creativity, richness of facets, and versatility of the players were also evident during the afternoon graffiti workshop, which provided a welcome change from the intensive training routine. Amid much laughter, fun, and good instructions, there were impressive masterpieces on canvases to admire as the final product. This was followed by a sociable dinner, rounding off the fourth day in Marienfeld successfully.

Quote of the Day: “So, if you have a dryer, then you are an adult” – said Tanja Pawollek at the lunch table.

The diary entries at a glance: