Olympic Gold medallist and ex-Norwich City footballer share tips for success
By: News Archive
Olympic Gold medal-winning hockey player Hannah Macleod and ex-Norwich City footballer Paul McVeigh shared their experiences, knowledge and tips for success with University of East Anglia (UEA) sports scholarship students and local athletes, at an event yesterday (14 March).
They led workshops on nutrition and sports psychology hosted by the Sportspark, Norwich, for UEA sports scholarship students and athletes from the Norfolk Sports Academy and the Young Norfolk Sports Academy.
The event also covered how athletes can best prepare for competitions by selecting the correct food and how to create a winning mentality, encouraging them to not fear failure.
It closed with the athletes quizzing Hannah and Paul in a question and answer session.
UEA sports scholarship students and Norfolk Sports Academy (NSA) athletes receive financial support, access to specialist led workshops, free use of Sportspark facilities and strength and conditioning to help them achieve their sporting goals.
Hannah Macleod won her Gold medal as part of the Great Britain hockey team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and with a PhD in Exercise Physiology, she passes on her passion for sport to others, inspiring athletes of the future.
She talked about the importance of nutrition in sport, saying: “The ability to make correct food choices is an essential skill required by all athletes. The nutritional composition of our diet has a significant impact on multiple performance parameters and ultimately, on overall health and wellbeing”.
“Education is essential to help athletes make smart food choices in an ever more complex environment."
Paul McVeigh spent 16 years playing professional football for Tottenham Hotspur FC and Norwich City FC and since retiring from football has presented for Sky Sports, TalkSPORT and BT Sport, as well as becoming a keynote speaker at events and workshops.
Paul spoke of the importance of psychology in sport saying: "In my professional opinion derived from my 25 years in professional sport, the most undervalued and overlooked aspect of elite performance is the mental component”.
“Athletes anecdotally acknowledge the benefits of improving your mental performance, however very few athletes grasp this opportunity which is why I am delighted that the NSA is providing support for athletes in Norfolk."
NSA athletes Iona Lake, who competes in Steeplechase, and shot-putter Sophie Mckinna, have this year been selected for Great Britain’s Commonwealth Team.
There are also high hopes for NSA athlete Julie Henson on being selected for Great Britain for the Commonwealth Senior Fencing Championships which will be held in Australia in November.
Iona Lake, said: “I would like to thank the Norfolk Sports Academy and its sponsors for supporting me for the last few years, this has helped me to reach my goals.”
To find out more about the NSA, click here.
For more information about the Sportspark, click here.
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