Research and findings

Interview with

HAUGHAY Aisling Bridget

Aisling is one of the top teenage swimmers in Hong Kong and she has represented Hong Kong to join the Queensland Age Swimming Championship in 2007 and 2008.

To obtain good results in swimming competitions, Aisling has to practice very frequently: six days a week and three to four hours a day. When asked why she has to practice so hard, she said it is because she likes swimming.  “I like swimming so much that I can’t do without swimming in my daily lives.  I practise a lot as I want to swim fast and win,” said Aisling.  In fact, she has already won so many prizes although she is only 13 and she has sacrified a lot of spare time. Aisling exclaimed “Although I have to sacrify a lot, e.g. unlike most teenagers, I don't have much entertainment and social activities with my friends, I think it worths. I am simply initiated and fulfilled by the sense of achievement obtained in swimming and winning.” Aisling enjoys the feeling of being the winner, but how does she feel when she loses in competitions? She said that she would be unhappy and sad. She would try to find out why she loses this time and improve herself to win next time.

Training needs time and so do rests and studying.  Does the tough training occupy almost all of her time and will it affect her academic work? Aisling replied with ease that since she has a very good management of her time, she does not find any difficulty in studying. She remarked “Because I have to practice a lot and not much time is left behind.  During leisure time, I will relax myself by listening to music or take a nap of 1 or 2 hours and then I will concentrate on my academic work.  I always apply the toughness in training in my studying.  Tough training will not hinder my studying but it helps, for example, it strengthens my will and body, forces me to prioritize my work and enables me to fully utilize the limited time during which I will highly concentrate in my work.  My mum said all these are very useful in my future life.” She concluded the interview by telling me that “Succeed or not depends on how you do it and whether you have the determination to do it. ”