London Athletes Q&A
Jeanette Kwakye
In London....
Where’s your favourite place to train:
Indoors: Edminton New Valley Athletic Centre, it’s a brand new centre and I absolutely love it, it’s nice and warm and feels like home.
Outdoors: Newham Stratford, it’s our second training centre right near the Olympic site. It’s really down to earth and everyone there is pretty much in it to win it, it’s really gritty which is how I like it. Not super styled.
What do you do to improve your:
Balance:
Close your eyes, stand still and just raise one leg and count to ten, do that on both sides, that will increase balance and strengthen your core.
Core:
Plank position, rest on your elbows and tones, come up in a straight line, raise yourself up and increase the time for whatever you feel comfortable.
Strength:
Get the dumbbells out, or any weighty things, and start doing quick bicep curls to get rid of bingo wings.
Cardio:
Get on the spinning bike and really go for it. The treadmill messes up your joints; getting on the bike takes the pressure off.
Flexibility:
Lots and lots of hip and back stretches, or sit yourself in a Buddha like position and use your hands to push down on your knees and really touch the floor to stretch your thighs.
Where do you like to go to watch/participate in other sports?
Emirates — I’m a massive Arsenal fan, and if I’m not in the Nike box, I’ll be screaming on the terraces. I’m an Arsenal girl at heart and I love football. To be honest finding time for it is kind of difficult. I can’t really participate in other sports, because I’m at such a level now that to get involved in anything else with the level on injuries involved, wouldn’t be worth it. I do dream that when I finish I’m going to be snowboarding on the Alps and skiing — I’m desperate to try it!
If you could train anywhere in London, restrictions removed, where would you go?
I’m happy where I am at the moment, but I love the LTA down in Southwest London - The Lawn Tennis Association.
Where do you celebrate your victories?
I hit the west end, frequent any clubs from Movida to Funky Buddha, I go to Trading Places parties organized by Reggie H, sometimes even members clubs for celebratory drinks.
Where do you go to get away from it all?
I just stay in my flat in Laytonstone, East London. I love to stay at home and chill out, turn my phone off, see who I need to see, and be a homebody.
What do you do to relax?
Read, watch TV, I’m all over twitter.com, Blackberrying, talking on the phone.
What do you do to treat yourself?
I go straight to the cake and the ice cream, sit down and reflect, and work extra hard in the session the next day!
What songs on your iPod really get you inspired?
Jay-Z, hip hop. House music, keeps me going, DJs.
UK music — Tinie Tempah ‘pass out’ on repeat.
Black Album Jay Z — encore.
Florence and the machine, you’ve got the love. The xx remix.
What has been your career highlight so far?
Making the Olympic final and believing I could be up there with the best.
What do you see as being your ultimate victory?
London 2010 Gold would be absolutely smashing, I’d just lose my mind after that I think.
What things count as everyday victories?
Getting up in the morning and getting to the gym is enough to motivate anybody, start your workout and you won’t be able to count the benefits. It’s all about that initial push to get yourself there, once you do that it starts to become a habit, it becomes part of your character.
How did you get started in sports?
I started when I was 13 just taking part in school sports days and running around with the girls, then I went down to my local club, competed at junior level, and it spiralled on from there.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
I’d probably have a job in media, or something like that. PR, bossing people around ‘cos I’ve got a big mouth, anything quite dynamic and using my imagination. I’ve got too much energy to just sit around.
Things you love outside of sport:
Chilling, socialising, listening to music, watching films, if I’m not expending energy I’m catching up with friends - family is very important to me.
Any advice for others trying to get active?
Get up and do it, set yourself a goal and imagine yourself getting it, goals and targets are the main thing.
