A total of Eighteen (18) athletes will represent Bermuda at the XX Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23rd to August 3rd, 2014.
Today www.islandstats.com continues with the Spotlight on an athlete that will be vying for Medals at the Games. We bring you Swimmer Julian Fletcher.
Name: Julian Fletcher
Date of Birth: October 8th, 1990
Q. What is something many people don’t know about you?
A. Besides swimming, I enjoy playing many other sports including golf and football. Whenever I'm back home I try and play a round of golf with friends or family, although my handicap could be better, it helps me clear my mind from training for swimming.
Q. How did you first get involved in Swimming?
A. I started swimming with Sharks at a young age, coached by Mr. Martin Allen, it was just an after school activity for me at that time.
Q. Did you have a particular Swimming idol?
A. I used to idolize James Gibson, a Breaststroker in the 90s for Great Britain. I believe that at an elite level you need to have the confidence in yourself during competition, so I don’t have a current idol in the sport since I’m competing at the same level.
Q. When did you realize that you wanted Compete Internationally?
A. Well, International competition sort of fell into my lap because I enjoyed the sport and was having fun. I qualified for Carifta 2006 when I was fifteen, which gave me the motivation to compete at a higher level e.g. Worlds, Commonwealth.
Q. What would you describe as your strongest discipline?
A. 100 & 200 Breaststroke
Q. Which do you feel needs the most improvement?
A. Definitely my breath control, the last pull out of the 200m Breaststroke is my weakness. It is difficult to train for and takes a lot of mental strength. I have sports-induced asthma and that influences my oxygen consumption in training, but I can definitely improve.
Q. What one moment in your Sport to date are you most proud of?
A. Earning the National Record in the 100m Breaststroke in 2012 took a lot of effort, and at the time I was trying to Qualify for the Olympics. I broke the record at the LA Speedo Grand Challenge and came close to making the standard.
Q. What are your goals for the rest of 2014?
A. Semi-final at the Commonwealth Games, with a personal record in my event.
Q. Can you give an insight into an average week of training for you?
A. Usually I train 10 times a week, every morning and afternoon except Wednesday and Saturday, with Sunday being my day off. On top of that, I have a strength and conditioning coach in Dallas, and I lift weights twice a week, usually working on speed and power in the weight room.
Q. Is this your first Commonwealth Games?
A. Yes
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