Interview with Sasha Matthews

Sasha, 17, swims for Nova Centurion in Nottingham and amongst her training partners Rebecca Adlington (ranked number 1 in the world for 800m freestyle) and Jessica Sylvester (going to the Olympics on the 4x100m free relay). She won medals at the European Junior Championships last year and has improved again this year. We caught up with her between flights to Mexico and Canada.

You say you listen to music to prepare you before you compete, what music is that?

Mainly dance music and new base line music really, I don't listen to a specific band, just anything that's good and has a good rhythm, something to gear me up ready for the race!

What's your favourite food?

I really love Marks and Spenser's melt in the middle chocolate puddings! (Not too healthy then!)

What has been your most recent success?

I've just flown back from Mexico from the World Youth Championships where I got a silver medal for the 4x200 freestyle relay. I also got 2 personal bests for freestyle as well.

Have you got any tips for upcoming athletes?

Just stick at it, through thick and thin. Think about all the rewards you will get out of all that training you have done and keep at it. There's a real reward in achieving what you want after all that hard work.

Have you got any tips for athletes wanting to develop their freestyle stroke?

My coach always tells me to keep my stroke long and make sure I get a good pull. I know I have to improve on that to get better, so I'd advise the same to other athletes.

What are your goals for the near future?

I fly to Canada on Friday for the TriNations, and I hope to swim well again there. I'd like to get a medal for my 400 freestyle. I want to make it to the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, and eventually to the Olympics in 2012.

You obviously do a lot of travelling around for competitions, so where's your favourite place?

Australia wins hands down! I love it there. It's hot and the people are really nice.

What's the best and worst thing about being a competitive swimmer?

The best thing is the rewards. Once you have done all that training and you work so hard to get a medal, it's so rewarding when you do. The worst thing is all the training! I train nine times a week, for two hours at a time, and I have two gym sessions a week as well.

So what do you do when you're not training?

Sleep! If I'm not sleeping I just like catching up with my friends