Introducing Paralympic swimmer Jordan Catchpole, aged 18.
Jordan is part of British Swimming, and trains eight times a week with the City of Norwich Swimming Club.
He started lessons at the age of four and joined Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club where his coaches saw potential as a competitive swimmer. Since then he has gone on to set a new world records! Last week he went on to win DOUBLE SILVER! in the European Championships on international debut for Team GB. He also came away with a WR in the S14 Relay.
Image Credit: Claire Brierly, a press cutting from unknown source.
Q: When did you first hear of Youth Sport Nutrition?
Jordan: Just over a year ago, we came across it on social media so I started using PROTEEN® about a year ago.
Q: How did you get into your first sport, and how old were you?
Jordan: When I was a baby my grandad took me for a swim and it took off from there.
Q: Did you have any key idols or role models that you looked up to and wanted to replicate, and if so, why?
Jordan: Anthony Joshua because he is always humble and has the winning mentality.
Q: How do you cater for your sports nutrition? What sort of meal plans/nutritional strategies did you implement?
Jordan: I take multi-vitamins and other supplements to recover as quick as possible and to keep me healthy. When in competition I keep my protein intake the same but eat fewer carbs, as you don’t need as much energy for racing.
Q: Let downs and injury are a common feature of being a professional athlete, can you tell us how you motivate yourself and what keeps you going through major incidents or tough circumstances?
Jordan: I keep myself busy so that I don’t have to think about it all the time and just take my mind of everything and think of the competitions coming up.
Q: What advice would you offer to youth athletes facing similar obstacles? What tools, tactics or strategies do you use to combat adversity? Any recommendations?
Jordan: Ignore all the adversity and keep your mind focused on what you love doing because the good things will come eventually.
Image Credit: Claire Brierly, a press cutting from unknown source.
Q: As a very successful youth athlete, how often do you train, and how has this changed depending on your sport?
Jordan: I do 8 swimming sessions a week, along with 5 land training sessions and some home workouts to keep me one step ahead. My sessions have increased as things have progressed.
Q: How do you stay healthy? Any Nutrition Tips?
Jordan: I fuel up properly with eating the right foods and stay hydrated, also recover properly by resting.
Q: What does it feel like to win competitions? Describe the emotion and senses involved during and afterwards.
Jordan: It’s a good feeling knowing that all the hard work has paid of.
Q: What are your future aspirations?
Jordan: Making the 2020 Paralympics.
Q: What does your ‘internal chatter’ look/sound like in the run up to your event time? What strategies do you use to calm nerves and remain focused?
Jordan: I listen to calm music and stay relaxed but some nerves are good before a race.
Q: What advice would you offer to Parents of youth athletes regarding their training, the pressure to perform (academic and sporting) and catering for nutrition? How can parents best support their training objectives?
Jordan: Let the coaches be coaches, don’t put any pressure on your child and support your child through good and bad.
Q: What are your objective thoughts on Youth Sport Nutrition designing PROTEEN®, the first safe supplement for high level youth athletes to support their recovery post training/match?
Jordan: It’s the first and only recovery shake designed for youth athletes and gives them all the nutrients they need and also tastes like a normal milk shake.
Q: What are your thoughts on using sports supplements, do they have a place in elite sport and how do you avoid compromising anti-doping regulations? What safe practices can parents or youth athletes take to ensure their safety and compliance?
Make sure everything is approved by Informed Sport and use GlobalDro.com to check all medications and supplements are safe to use.
Image Credit: Claire Brierly, a press cutting from unknown source.
We're incredibly proud to be working with Jordan towards the 2020 dream! #TeamYSN
Leave a comment