Xavier Mohammed Interview

What is your favourite thing about swimming?

Swimming is a great sport; my favourite thing about it is the excitement of competing.

You will turn 17 at the end of this month, what do you view as your biggest achievement to date?

Last season was great. Winning a silver medal at the World Youth Games was an amazing achievement for me, as was the National Championships where I won five gold medals.

What does a typical week’s training involve for you?

I train every day, twice a day. I do 12 sessions in total, which totals 20 hours.

What do you like to do out of the pool?

Sleep! No seriously, I sleep, eat and swim, that’s all I do! When I can, I enjoy hanging out with my school and swimming friends.

You were born in London, but we hear your family come from all over the world. Tell us a bit about your background...

I am half Italian and half Trinidadian. My mum is from Italy and my dad is from Trinidad and Tobago but my dad’s ancestors also come from India and China.

So, should we be worried that you might swim for Italy/Trinidad and Tobago at the 2012 Olympic Games!?

No, I would never consider swimming for any country other than Britain as it has done so much for me and my swimming.

Have you stopped studying now that you have finished secondary education or are you carrying on?

I am now in sixth form college doing my AS levels. I am studying Maths, Economics and French plus an A2 level in Italian. I am fluent in Italian.

You swim a variety of strokes what is your strongest?

The medley is my strongest event, but I would have to say that backstroke is my strongest stroke.

You won a silver medal at the World Youth Games in Rio last year, how did that make you feel?

It felt amazing! It was 0.5secs off my PB but that didn’t bother me too much. It was a really close race, there was just 0.01secs between second and third place.

How do you prepare for a race?

I like to relax before a race and try to avoid wasting energy over-thinking what’s ahead, as that can make you swim badly. I try to spend my time in a calm atmosphere, talking with friends to take my mind off the pressure.

What have you done with all your medals?

The best ones are hanging up in a special case that my grandma made for me. The others are in a big box.

You are now eligible to enter the Junior European Championships, which events are you training for in preparation for the heats this month?

I am training for six events at the moment: 100m and 200m backstroke, 200m and 400m individual medley, and 200m and 400m freestyle.

What is your biggest ambition in life?

To make it to the Olympics. I would love to compete in Beijing in 2008 but it may be more realistic to aim for London 2012.