Read the transcript of Xavier Mohammed’s Get Set interview.
Ciao! Mi chiamo Xavier Mohammed, sono nuotatore e vi presento il programma London 2012. [Hi, my name is Xavier Mohammed, I am a swimmer and I am presenting the programme London 2012.]
My Mum is from Italy and my Dad is from Trinidad.
I lived in Italy for five years – primary school – and I used to swim there. That is where I gained most of my skills, in Italy.
When I came to this country I met my coach. I have been with my coach seven years, and that is a long time, and she’s been an amazing coach.
Having the Olympics and Paralympics in London is just amazing. It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s going to be at home.
When you swim a race and at the end you know that you have done well, even if you haven’t done a PB, and you know you have done well, you just feel …. you can’t describe the feeling, it’s just amazing. the best feeling ever.
You have to be disciplined enough to manage your time, be determined and motivated to actually continue at the sport even when it gets tough… to just keep going.
Some of the youngest swimmers in my squad I usually tend to encourage to keep coming to training and to have a routine. If you say you are going to come to eight sessions a week, then come to eight sessions a week.
I’ve had a lot of help from my school, my school are very supportive of me which is a very good thing. I get help from my teachers whenever I need it.
My biggest hero is Ian Thorpe because he is an amazing freestyle swimmer: what he has done in swimming is incredible.
