British Sailing Team Windsurfer Sam Sills is weeks away from making his Olympic debut, as he crosses the start line he will join a very exclusive alumini of Olympians a club not many will have the opportunity to join. Months of discipline, diet and countless hours of training in the quest for Olympic Gold. Grit, early mornings, long days. Being an Olympian is a full time job, train, eat, sleep, repeat! All of us at The Official Test Centre wish Sam so much luck as we all get our union jack flags ready to get behind Team GB! In this weeks blog Sam gives us an insight into the final days in the lead up to the Greatest Sporting Show on Earth! The Olympics! Sam sails into the history books!
By Emma Nicholson.
Are you happy with the kit?
Sam said: "Yes I am it was a really big process to test it all and understand which parts we were going to use, overall I am happy."
Do you need to make any adjustments now you have spent time with the kit?
Sam said: "Yes a lot, all the time you are trying to adjust it and fine tune how you have to have it set up. Here in Marseille you have got five main different wind directions, that can have quite different conditions and set ups. You need to be really clear how you are going to set it up in all those different wind conditions and be ready for it to change any day so that is a lot of work but we are getting there."
How are you feeling with less than a month to go to the Olympics?
Sam said: "I am feeling a mixture of I am very tired right now becuase I have been training really hard, but I am excited getting my things ready as fast as I can and it is a mixture of excitement, stress and tiredness, but also happy memories."
What’s your schedule in the build up to the Olympics?
Sam said: "Make the most of everyday. Listening to my body. manage my energy levels and guide myself into the last three weeks.
Are you in Marseille or when do you go?
Sam said: "Yes I am here in Marseille, I have been here since April."
Can you give us an insight into all the effort and training that goes into getting you race ready on that start line for the first race of the Olympics?
Sam said: "It is very long days, I start my day at 8:30am and don't finish until 7:30 pm /8pm at night, there is so much to do. It has been like that for the past three months. I probably take two days off a week. The days off are more like sleep for the whole day trying to recover or sorting things out that need sorting out that aren't related to windsurfing. It is intense. "
What are you going to be looking forward to the most about the Olympics?
Sam said: "I am going to be looking forward to the racing and trying to put together everything we have been working for."
How do you deal with the pressure that comes with competing at the top of your game?
Sam said: "Preparation, gives me the confidence helps me deal with it all."
Everyone that supports you and follows you would want to wish you so much luck. What motivates you when you are on that start line for an Olympic race?
Sam said: "Think I try and tap into why I am supposed to be doing this. What I love about the sport and trying to do it for all the people that have supported me along this journey and just put togehter a great show for everyone because that is what it is all about and try and bring home this medal for Great Britain if we can. When you are on the start line you are just so focussed on exucuting things in the moment being present. you go through your processess and your routines. You have to go out there with a clear calm head with what you have to execute. All the motivation is the months before leading up to the early mornings the late nights the sailing the tiredness what gets you through that is all the support and all the people behind you and how much you have put into it."
If Sam has lit a fire in you wanting to take the plunge and start your windsurfing journey, why not book a taster with us at The Official Test Centre, book online or call 07817 717904.
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