Amy Winters is an extremely successful Australian paralympic athlete. Her pet events are the 100m and 200m sprint. She won 2 gold medals at the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000 and at the 1998 World Championships, she won golds in the 100m and 200m there also! At the ripe old age of 20!!
Oscar Orange was bouncing out of his skin when he was asked if he could interview this amazing young woman.
Oscar
Orange:
Hi Amy, it's an absolute blast to meet you. I have so many
questions I want to ask you, but let's start with you telling me who has been
the toughest opponent?
Amy
Winters:
Hi Oscar it's nice to meet you to. My toughest opponent?
Well, that would be Anna Szymul from Poland. We have had a close rivalry since
the world champs in 1998 where I won gold in both the 100m & 200m and she
won the silver medals. She officially broke my world record at the Paralympics
in Sydney in the semi final but she has yet to beat me in a final. I am training
hard to keep it that way!
Oscar
Orange:
Wow!
It seems like she is on your heels! It must be hard having to be in peak condition
all of the time. You must get tired and injured. What has been your worst
every injury?
Amy
Winters:
I have been extremely lucky throughout my athletics career
not to have had a major injury. I have strained my hamstring once which was
quite painful and I had a struggle with shin splints for about the six months
leading up to the Sydney Paralympics.
Oscar
Orange:
That's
good. You've been pretty lucky. I bet the shin splints got annoying, though,
especially at such a crucial time in your career. What do you think has been
your biggest achievement in Athletics?
Amy
Winters:
My biggest achievement was definitely winning the double
in Sydney. Mainly because I'd had quite a difficult build up to the games
with the shin splints, lack of motivation and dealing with pressure that I
hadn't come even close to dealing with in the past. These factors really affected
my form and as a result I wasn't running the best I ever had so to come out
of the games with 2 golds and 1 bronze medal- I was thrilled, not to mention
relieved!
Oscar
Orange:
Have you ever had a losing streak?
Amy
Winters:
Fortunately no, not internationally. When I race at inter-club
against able-bodied athletes I do not win all the time but when I am competing
against women with the same disability as myself (arm amputee) then thankfully
I haven't encountered a losing streak.
Oscar
Orange:
What
about times when you just lack motivation? How do you overcome this?
Amy
Winters:
It
is so hard to keep focused when there are a lot of really exciting things
to do but you can't because you have to go training, or rest or something
in order to be a good athlete. But that's when you really have to look at
your goals and what you want to achieve and that's when you remember why you
put yourself through it.
Oscar
Orange:
Wow!
You have to just be very dedicated and disciplined I guess! Now tell me what
are your favourite fruits?
Amy
Winters:
I'm a big fan of melons. My favourite fruits would be
watermelon, rockmelon and strawberries- they are fantastic on a hot summers
day.
Oscar
Orange:
Don't
you like oranges? So what are your favourite vegetables?
Amy
Winters:
Sorry Oscar. I do like oranges. They'd be next on my list!
I love potatoes mashed with pumpkin and I don't mind beans. I was horrible
as a child as I didn't eat my vegetables but I realised that if I wanted to
be an athlete then I had to eat better and now I eat them regularly.
Oscar
Orange:
Yes, fresh fruit and veg definitely can give you the edge!
What is your favourite food in general?
Amy
Winters:
My favourite type of food at the moment is Asian, especially
Thai. I just love the rice but there are only a few dishes that I really like
because I don't like spicy food. They are beef with oyster sauce and sweet
& sour chicken. Plus I really love lollies and chocolates- some habits you
just can't leave behind!
Oscar
Orange:
All in moderation I guess! Now tell me Amy, if you hadn't
turned out to be such a legend athlete, what do you think you would have chosen
to do as a career?
Amy
Winters:
I'm still trying to decide that very thing! I currently
work for Westpac as the Events & Communications Co-ordinator and I'm looking
at some other directions that I can take my career.
Oscar
Orange:
Wow!
You must be a very busy woman! If you actually get to have any, what do you
like to do in your spare time?
Amy
Winters:
To be honest, between working and training there is not
a lot of spare time left! But when I have it, I usually hang out with my boyfriend
and we go to the movies, dinner or to watch sport and just relax really.
Oscar
Orange:
I can
understand that. Who is your hero?
Amy
Winters:
There are many people that I admire. I admire people who
are achievers and follow their dreams. I also admire people who aim to make
a difference in the lives of others for the better.
Oscar
Orange:
Do you
have any nicknames?
Amy
Winters:
Yes a few….Aims, Winters, Summer and Aimster
Oscar
Orange:
What do you think is the best thing about playing sport?
Amy
Winters:
Keeping fit and healthy and most importantly, having fun!
Oscar
Orange:
What is your favourite motto?
Amy
Winters:
There
are no short cuts to any place worth going.
Oscar
Orange:
Ooh that's a good one! What was the best thing about competing
in the Sydney Paralympic Games?
Amy
Winters:
There were so many great things but the best thing was
being able to compete at the highest level in my field in front of my family
and friends. It was the first time that most of them had seen me compete internationally
and to be able to win with them there was great. Being presented with my medals
and hearing the national anthem and having over 20,000 people there to sing
it with you was just the most amazing memory that I have.
Oscar
Orange:
Yes
I can imagine that will be something you will never ever forget!!! Thank you
very much for your time, Amy, and best of luck with your athletics and everything
else in the future!!!!
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