Have fun, be hungry to achieve and give your everything

Published in 2016

We are now well into the Olympic Games, Rio 2016 and we have seen many ups and downs so far this year. Team SA has already brought home seven medals – so we wanted to chat to Olympian and Paralympian Natalie du Toit about her Olympic journey and what our athletes will be thinking and feeling right now.

What were our current Olympians feeling and thinking just before the Game started, especially during the opening ceremony?

The last week before the Games always takes so long to go by and the last day goes so quickly. It is time to soak everything in – the village, the competitors, the feel of the swimming pool, but most importantly it is a time to reflect on why you are there. The Opening Ceremony is very taxing and energy-intensive so some athletes, especially swimmers who are racing on the first day decide to stay at the village. As the flag bearer leads the team out into the stadium, the nerves and energy is at its highest point. This is the start to the games, the moment you have trained your whole life for. A truly exhilarating but exhausting experience.

What is your advice for first time Olympians and Paralympians about the other teams? In your experience, how have the teams always interacted with each other?

Experience as much as possible at the Olympics/Paralympics and embrace the challenges. Make friends and enjoy every moment. Do not let any athletes try and put you off and just give your best. The Olympic village houses all the countries and provides many an opportunity to meet all athletes across all sports. The dining hall, laundry rooms and the call up room are great opportunities to meet other athletes as well, however, it is ultimately up to the athlete to interact with other athletes and make friends.

How did you get yourself psyched up before a race?

Psyching up for a race did not consist of only one thing. Knowing that we had prepared as much as we could in training, the team was positive and confident, always warming up before the swimming session starts, having my suit on early and warming up for the second time before the race with the suit on, arriving at the call room early and having those last positive words from those close to me just before my race meant everything to me to know that the people closest to me believed in me.

I had a few small things that helped psych me up. These included walking out to the race with as little clothing as possible, having my cap and goggles ready and sitting at the back of the block rubbing my hands on the block before the start. Often having a random picture drawn on an arm or leg helped remind me of the things I needed to concentrate on in the race.

What did you do on your off days? How do you recommend our team spend their off days?

I had one race day off or nothing between my events as I raced everything available in my category. That day was spent resting a little, warming up twice and doing washing. My advice to the team would be to enjoy every moment and just do what they believe would be the best and do things that would give them the mental advantage.

When you are standing on the start ready to race, what is going through your mind – what are you focusing on?

Here is where the random picture drawn on my arm or leg came into effect, allowing me to concentrate on and remember the things I tend to do when tired, not allowing for the best result and then changing them. The words, ‘you can do this, you are fit enough’ went through my head and then I’d shift my focus to the officials for the start.

You began competing competitively at 14 – it must have been very tough, mentally, for such a young person. What advice do you have for the youngest Olympians competing this year?

The advice for young athletes would be exactly the same as all the other athletes. Anyone can win a medal and be the champion. Have fun, be hungry to achieve and give your everything.”

You have won so many medals through the years – and so many gold medals. How does it feel and what are you thinking about when you stand waiting at the medal ceremony?

The thoughts that went through my mind were always about dress code – did I look respectable, was my hair brushed and did that look okay; I should walk as well as I could as people were watching and then to just have fun amongst the nerves. Should there be more than one race on a day, I would have been thinking about my next race. After the final medal, the thought was usually – we had done it, it is all over and relief starts setting in.

How does it feel coming home after the Games?

Returning home was always a time for a short break, a reflection on what was achieved and what still wants to be achieved. Always glad to be home for a short period we have to travel a lot for competitions. Four years is a long time to work and there was always a bit of a mental downtime after achieving the ultimate dream of qualifying for the Olympic/Paralympic Games.