Team Kellogg's swimmer Sam Hynd has today won his first Olympic gold medal in the 400m freestyle to go alongside the bronze he already bagged in the Beijing water cube yesterday. The 17 year-old swam another world record time to win Britain's eighth swimming title in the Paralympics.
Swimming in the S8 category, Sam has a neuromuscular myopathy, which restricts the use of his hands and legs in the water. He trains in Mansfield alongside fellow Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington and has received funding from Kellogg’s over the last two years to provide coaching and training in his quest for medal success. The funding is part of Kellogg’s £3m ‘grass roots to gold medals’ investment to get people swimming across the UK.
Sam took time out of his busy training schedule to share his thoughts on preparing for Beijing, his aspirations in swimming and what’s he going to do when he gets back to Nottingham. The interview can be viewed at www.kelloggs.co.uk/whatson/teamkelloggs
Where do you live and train?
I’m a Nottingham lad, born and bred. I train with the Nottingham Nova squad and Mansfield, it’s only about 20 minutes from my house so it’s perfect.
How did you get into swimming?
Because of my disability I can’t really run around the football pitch or a cricket pitch so swimming seemed the best option as it’s non weight bearing. Also, I wasn’t good at other sports anyway! Swimming’s the only one I excelled at.
What is your disability?
Here’s a good word for you – it’s a neuromuscular myopathy. It affects my hips, all of my lower limbs, my forearms and hands. When I swim I don’t have a continuous kick, I basically drag my legs and try and keep my hips up as best I can.
What do you like most about swimming?
I like the training and the fitness, I like seeing how I can test myself and push myself to my limits. When you get the results from all the training, that’s definitely the best bit. You do all that hard work and then you get the fantastic results. That’s why I do it really.
What do you like for breakfast?
A bit of a mix. I like Frosties, Rice Krispies and I like Nutri-grain and Coco Pops to snack on.
What would we find in your shopping basket?
Pastas, Lasagne, different kinds of bread, pitta bread and naan bread. I do like my greens, I like a good Sunday roast, you can’t beat it! I like jacket potatoes with beans, they’re perfect for lunches and I drink a lot of apple and orange juices, I’m not a fizzy drinks kind of person, I much prefer a fruit smoothie!
Describe a typical day of training
I get up at about 5.30am and I’m in the pool between 6 – 7.30am. I go home and have some breakfast and have a bit of a sleep, depending on what time of year it is I might go to school! Then I go to the gym at about 3.45pm-4.45pm and swim from 5-7pm. Then I go home, have dinner and do my homework. Then I do it all over again the next day!
How are you preparing for Beijing?
I’m training to the best of my ability at the moment; all my sets are exactly how I want them to be. My technique’s not perfect, no one’s is perfect, but it’s exactly how I want it. It’s going really well!
What’s been your best achievement?
My best achievement so far is breaking the 400m freestyle S8 category world record five times in the last two months and also qualifying for the games. I would like to win gold in the 400m freestyle in Beijing and beat China’s Wang Xiaofu. I’ve been told by everyone that he’s a tough cookie so to beat him in front of his home crowd would be fantastic!
Will your family be out in Beijing?
My mum, dad and little brother are all coming. They’ve never been that far from Nottingham so it will be a fantastic experience for them to go to China let alone the Parlympics!
What do you do when you’re not swimming?
I don’t get time for a very big social life so I like to see my friends, play the guitar to relax, watch TV, listen to music and play on my Xbox!
What’s your most treasured possession?
It’s got to be my bed! I work so hard so I need my sleep! I like my guitar as well and I also like my food.
What music do you listen to?
Anything from blues to rock music. No one’s ipod has got a bigger contrast than mine. I’ve got rap, heavy metal, you name it.
What movies do you like?
My movies are like my music, I can watch anything from romantic comedy to horror or thrillers.
Have you got any holidays planned?
I would love to have a holiday but I’m not sure what’s going to happen. There might be another World short course or a high meet planned in the next year but I think I’ll have a rest before I go into hard training!
How does the support from Kellogg’s help you?
I am living my dream every day and this is partly made possible by the help and support I get. Kellogg’s supports me with vital funding for the training needed to get me to the highest level but I know they are behind me in my quest to reach that Podium so that is very special to me. I hope the publicity around the Olympics encourages and inspires future athletes, especially those with a disability like me.
Bruce Learner, Community and Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “We’ve sponsored Sam for two years and we’re so thrilled he’s achieved his dream of an Olympic Gold – he’s an inspiration to us all.”
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
o Kellogg’s has been a main sponsor of swimming in Britain since 1997: it first partnered with the Amateur Swimming Association to sponsor the ASA Swimming Awards Scheme and in 2007 worked with the ASA to develop the Kellogg’s Swim Active programme.
o Nationally, Kellogg’s is investing £3m between 2006 and 2008, committing approximately £1m per year. This three-year commitment to the governing body of swimming in England, which will also benefit the sport in Scotland and Wales, is designed to specifically promote the ongoing benefits of physical activity and break down any barriers people may have that prevent them from participating in swimming.
o Since the partnership between Kellogg’s and the ASA began, more than 13 million swimming awards have been presented to youngsters, making the scheme the most successful awards scheme in British sport.
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swimming Team Kellogg's sponsorship ASA