How is your training for this summer’s Olympics going?
Training is going really great! I’m on track and feel positive and excited about everything, especially after the setbacks I have had with injuries in the past. I had a month’s training in Florida, which was perfect to get my form going and I now feel like I’m firing on all cylinders and ready for what lies ahead.
What is your diet like?
My diet is high in protein, with lots of chicken, as this is vital for muscle repair. I avoid additives and saturated fats as this can make me sluggish. Before training I tend to eat something like pasta with chicken and veg as this is great for energy, but is easy to digest and also gives me all the vitamins and minerals I need. After training I have some fruit, perhaps some nuts to snack on or a yoghurt and I drink plenty of water and Go Coco coconut water for rehydration. For dinner I am back on the meat and veg, perhaps a stirfry with not too much oil, or a nice pasta dish.
What are your favourite fruits and vegetables and how do you like to eat them?
I love blueberries, raspberries and pineapple - I can’t get enough of them and like them just as they are. My favourite veg is broccoli, preferably steamed as I like it with a bit of a bite to it. I like carrots too, again steamed or sometimes roasted as this brings out their sweetness. I think I am a pretty good cook - I’m not into really fussy foods and can make everything I need to eat so that’s good enough for me!
What challenges have you had to overcome in both your life and career?
When I was younger I had to face people telling me to give up sport and that it wasn’t going to come to anything, but I would never listen. I am really proud of how far I have come, especially as up until very recently I didn’t have the benefit of sponsorship deals, lottery funding or endorsements, I’ve had to rely on hard work, determination and a real love for what I do. Apart from my family, sport is my life - I even work at the Met-Track when I can, which is a youth diversion scheme founded and run by my coach John Powell, that mentors young Londoners and gives them hope and direction towards a more positive future. I have adopted my coach’s philosophy on life, which is “Achieving Excellence by Endeavour”.
What did you love eating as a child and have your taste buds changed as you got older?
When I was a child I loved everything unhealthy; crisps, chocolate, pizza, McDonald’s, chips, the lot! I loved West Indian food too as this was a big part of my upbringing, and it isn’t actually too bad for you, but as I got more into my sport and became aware of what I needed to eat in order for my body to perform at its best I got really into my healthy eating - now I actually can’t stand junk food! So I think my taste buds have changed for the best.
What can be done to encourage people to eat more fruit and veg?
When I was younger dinner ladies at school or your parents would use myths like “carrots make you see in the dark” to get you to eat your veg, but if we taught children the real importance of eating fresh produce and the impact it has on your health, then maybe they would feel more driven to eat more fruit and veg instead of fast foods and junk. If fruit and veg companies made more of an effort to make their produce appeal to kids, in the way that the fast food sector does, perhaps kids would start asking to have healthy snacks in their lunchboxes, instead of feeling like they are having them forced on them. -
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