Her Moves: Amelia McNamee's Story
"Sport has helped me to become more confident in my own abilities inside and outside the gym" - Amelia McNamee
Amelia McNamee is a 17-year-old student from Lucan, Dublin. Amelia does Rhythmic Gymnastics with Excel Gymnastics and is a member of the Irish National Team. We spoke with Amelia last week and asked her a few questions about her relationship with sport and activity and her story so far.
How/When did you first get involved in your sport?
I started recreational gymnastics when I was about 5-years-old and moved to Rhythmic Gymnastics when I was 7-years-old because my club thought I would be good at it.
Are there any other sport/activities that you did before the sport you do now?
I tried GAA before Rhythmic but it wasn’t really for me. Alongside gymnastics, I have also learned to swim and am a competent swimmer.
How has sport and physical activity impacted your life?
Sport has helped me to become more confident in my own abilities inside and outside the gym, it also keeps me fit and healthy. I train 24 hours per week and have to balance that with school. Doing this has taught me discipline and focus both in my training and in my schoolwork, something that will benefit me for the rest of my life.
What is your favourite pre / post exercise snack?
Porridge with fruit is my favourite before Saturday morning training. After evening training I eat pasta with vegetables. At the moment my training starts at 2.30pm so I love to have a pot of fruit and some carbohydrates before I start.
Who inspires you to be active?
My teammates in Excel have always inspired me to be active. When I was younger the older gymnasts were always encouraging and a big inspiration to me to work my hardest. Now that I’m one of the older gymnasts, I try my best to be a role model to the younger gymnasts and inspire them in the same way.
What does your school do to encourage an active environment?
My school offers a variety of different sports such as GAA, Rugby, Badminton, Athletics and Soccer. They also celebrate the sporting achievements of students, both inside and outside of school activities.
Who has been your most influential coach and why?
My current coach, Angélica Kvieczynski, is my most influential coach so far. She has a lot of experience, both as a Rhythmic Gymnast competing at a high level and also as a coach. She understands how tough the sport can be and uses this knowledge to encourage and motivate me to always try my hardest and aim for my goals.
Have you noticed other girls your age stepping away from sport? If so, how does that make you feel?
Yes, I have noticed other girls my age and younger stepping away from the sport. I think it’s such a pity because I find that sport is such a good way of taking my mind off school and other things on my mind. I enjoy being in the gym with my friends, something that these girls may miss out on.
What’s your advice to someone thinking about dropping out of sport?
If someone is thinking about dropping out of sport due to the pressure of school commitments, then I would say to talk to your coach and parents to come up with a way to balance your commitments better but still be able to continue in the sport, even at a reduced level.
Is there any advice you have for parents trying to support their daughter participating in sport?
For parents trying to support their daughter in sport, I would say to let your daughter know that you will always be there for them, on the good days and on the bad days and that you will give them whatever support they need to continue participating.
Have you any advice for someone thinking of getting involved in Gymnastics and how can they get involved?
There are a lot of different Gymnastics disciplines and there is something to suit anyone who is interested in trying gymnastics. Check out your local club on the Gymnastics Ireland website and see what they offer. Many clubs now offer teen classes which will give an insight into the sport. My advice would be to try some classes and don’t give up straight away if you find it difficult, you may grow to love it!
When is your next competition?
My next competition will be in October / November of this year.
Who is your female sporting role model?
I have a few, I admire Sofia Raffaeli from Italy and Stiliana Nikolova from Bulgaria. I have watched them progress from Junior level to being among the best in the world at Senior level. Their progression has been amazing and this inspires me to aim high with my goals.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
As a hobby, I cut music for Rhythmic Gymnastics routines and have a YouTube channel that I post the music on. I have cut all the music for my current routines!
A SPECIAL THANKS TO AMELIA FOR TELLING HER MOVES ALL ABOUT HER STORY. IF YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY TO TELL, PLEASE LET US KNOW. YOU CAN MESSAGE US ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK OR TWITTER!
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