Ben Kersten

Name: Ben Kersten
Sport: Track Cycling
Events: 1km Time Trial, Keirin, Team Sprint
Club: St George
Date of birth: 21.09.81
Height: 186cm
Age: 23

Sporting bio and Achievements:
• 2005 World Cup Champion – 1 km Time trial
• 3 times Junior World Champion
• 2004 Olympian - Athens

Bazza Banana was stoked to be interviewing Ben and here’s what they chatted about when they caught up:

Bazza Banana:
Hi Ben, thank you for taking the time to chat to us today so can you tell us who has been the team’s toughest opponent?
Ben Kersten:
Myself

Bazza Banana:
Track cycling is a demanding sport, can you please tell me about your worst ever injury.
Ben Kersten:
Torn knee ligament 3 weeks before the World Championships and still competed!

Bazza Banana:
Wow! That must have been tough. What do you think has been your biggest achievement in sport?
Ben Kersten:
Breaking the Junior World Record on my way to becoming Junior World Champion.

Bazza Banana:
That's cool man. Loads of hard work to get there I bet. So can you tell me if you have ever had a losing streak?
Ben Kersten:
I took almost a year off the bike and when I returned I ended up with two knee injuries. My worst results were probably through that period.

Bazza Banana:
That's harsh. Dude, how do you overcome these bad times?
Ben Kersten:
I never lost sight of my Goals and the big picture ahead.

Bazza Banana:
Sounds like good advice. Having fun in sports is the most important thing! You must eat pretty well with all the training that you do. Can you please tell me what your favourite fruits are?
Ben Kersten:
Cherries, Grapes, Plums…. All of them.

Bazza Banana:
Yum! and what would you say is your favourite vegetable?
Ben Kersten:
Snow peas, peas, carrots, tomatoes…. Anything else is still great.

Bazza Banana:
Yeah! Sounds good. What is your favourite food in general?
Ben Kersten:
...Ummm...Sea Food.

Bazza Banana:
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?
Ben Kersten:
A designer of some sort. If I wasn’t training and competing I would need another outlet. Designing would be it.

Bazza Banana:
How cool! I can imagine you train pretty hard mate, but what do you like to do in your spare time?
Ben Kersten:
Design, be normal, go to the beach/restaurants/cafes.

Bazza Banana:
That sounds like great fun. Who is your hero?
Ben Kersten:
Anyone who is achieving what they want to.

Bazza Banana:
Do you have any nicknames?
Ben Kersten:
Benny K.

Bazza Banana:
OK, Benny K, what do you think is the best thing about playing sport?
Ben Kersten:
Traveling the world.

Bazza Banana:
That’s a great reason to play sports. What is your favourite motto?
Ben Kersten:
Or Die Trying.

Bazza Banana:
Benny K, thanks for answering all my questions and for spending the time with us today. On behalf of the "F & V Gang" I would like to wish you the very best and I have no doubt you will be representing Australia again and doing us proud!