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220 EXCLUSIVE: Q&A WITH OLYMPIC ATHLETE OLLY FREEMAN
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Written by Courtesy 220 Magazine
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Wednesday, 06 August 2008
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Just before the GB tri team headed over to their Olympic holding camp in Korea, we caught up with men's reserve Olly Freeman at a training session for the Herbalife Cup athletes who are competing at London this weekend…
220 How’s the mindset regarding Beijing? It must be difficult when you’re sort of stuck in no man’s land.
OF Well obviously it was very frustrating to have such a bad day in Madrid, but having missed the other qualifiers last year with my broken foot, I guess it’s a compliment to be put in as the reserve by the selectors. But every cloud has a silver lining, and I wouldn’t have raced Hamburg had I been in the team proper, and hence not got my first World Cup podium.
As for these last few weeks, I'm just cracking on with training as usual, and if I get called up I will be ready, but I’m not counting on it. As far as I’m aware all the boys are fighting fit.
220 Many of the Olympians have been training in warmer climes and using heat chambers in their Beijing prep. Have you been doing similar?
OF I have done a lot of heat work in the last 12 months, in St Croix, South Africa, Australia, Texas and heat chambers. I have also done some very hot races recently (for instance, the Tiszaujvaros World Cup was 39 degrees!).
220 Your form in the recent World Cups has been good. Presuming you’re training injury-free?
OF Yup… touch wood! It has been nice to get some solid results and work myself into the top 10 in the world, and now know that I can compete with the very best guys in the world.
220 Will we see you in the UK racing during August and September?
OF At the moment I’m not 100% sure. I'm hoping to be in Europe for the Lorient World Cup, but after the dearth of races in the immediate aftermath of the Games, there are a lot of races in September and October so I will have to pick and choose… and then finish my season at some point. I’ve been going since March!
220 Can you explain your involvement in the Herbalife grassroots initiative?
OF Herbalife have been sponsoring me since I was a junior in 2005, and their involvement has been hugely influential on my development from a young athlete to an elite. Herbalife are now looking to help more young athletes move through the ranks, especially with the benefit of their expertise in the field of sports nutrition. I am helping Herbalife provide the right support for these promising athletes, as well as providing general advice for them from a training and competing point of view.
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