All in Attitude!
Anthony Ivanov:
I am motivated by Berbatov, Stoichkov, Nadal and Michael Jordan!
"Persistence and passion, purpose and motivation separate the good from the best athletes," said the swimming ace Anthony Ivanov in the third episode of the educational studio "We'll meet at the top" - one of the new initiatives of NSK Olimp (Sofia).
The finalist of the World and European championships talks about the different stages of his preparation, about discipline and the correct distribution of tasks.
"I get up early, around 5 o'clock. The next things are training, breakfast, stretching, lectures, second training in the gym. Specialized trainers take care of the correct distribution and dosing of the load.
The closer I am to a competition, the easier it gets in the gym. I use more bodyweight exercises, as I don't overdo the weights.''
Diet is an important part of Anthony Ivanov's training. "I don't overdo it with sweets, I rarely indulge in junk food, I mostly cook my own food," shared the bronze medalist at the 2017 Indianapolis World Junior Championships.
Among the book titles that motivate Ivanov, which he highly recommends are: the biographies of Rafael Nadal, Dimitar Berbatov and Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as the film about Hristo Stoichkov and the documentary series about Michael Jordan.
"I learn something from everyone in swimming team, since competition is very important! "Here in the U.S., the coaches support you, they're happy for you, there's more preparation and recovery," says the student at Virginia Tech, where he trains with Rio 2016 Olympic 100m butterfly champion Joseph Schooling.
Visualization, swimming with weights and special socks are part of the methods of the Boy from Turnovo.
Ivanov shares how he deals with mental stress and preparation for big competitions.
"You shouldn't be afraid of other good swimmers, but believe in your own abilities!" The competition is where you see the work you've done, you do it for yourself, you're confident!”
"Successful coaches pull-up the athletes along with them. Some sit on the chair, while the others are straight, paying attention to the details, even on an annoying note," says Anthony Ivanov.
“How much do you want something and how much are you willing to sacrifice to get it? You have to learn to love the pain of the training process so you can enjoy the achieved results."
Anthony is adamant that he doesn't regret anything he missed. He had left the bad environment that was dragging him down. He was supported by his family, heeded their advice. Despite the distance and stressful everyday life, the swimmer shares: "I manage to combine personal relationships with my professional growth, as I find support and understanding from my loved one."
The educational show "We'll meet at the top" is being broadcasted twice a month (one week apart) on Wednesday evening at 20:00, live on our Facebook and YouTube channels.
All shows in the series ‘We will meet at the top’ (see here).
