Interview feature: Vicky Holland

Name: Vicky Holland

Born(year/city): 1986, Gloucester, UK

Continent: Europe

Homepage: www.vickyholland.com

Team(s): Beauvais Triathlon and D-Squad I guess!

Strength [in triathlon]: Hmmmmm I’d say my swim is my biggest strength at the moment

Weakness [in life]: Where to begin….!

Vicky,

You are about to walk out on the pontoon in the Hamburg World Championship Series race wearing number 10. This is one number better than ms Olympic gold Emma Snowsill. How do you feel about this? Well, I guess I’ll get some air time on TV as the cameras are sure to be on her a fair bit before the start! And I don’t really feel anything one way or another about starting next to Emma….I’d feel pretty damn awesome to finish one number better than her though!

It’s a bit of a different Holland from the girl who arrived in Davos this time last year…or? Different athlete, same girl – still talks too much, enjoys life and likes sleeping but I just happen to be good at what I do now!

I know you have a long term boyfriend back home and also a house you bought last year. It must be tough for you to be on the road for such a big part of the year? Is it worth it?! Tough to be away for so long, but it’s worked pretty well so far. Skype is useful! On the house front…I think I had a good idea running away when we bought it as it needs a lot of work so I’ve left that to my ‘project manager’ haha!

Except the living situation. What was the biggest change for you when you joined the squad? What made you improve so much so quick?

The biggest changes were consistency, technical emphasis and living the ’simple life’ of eating sleeping and training. As for what made me improve so quickly, I think it was a combination of all those things, altitude (which seems to work for me) and being part of an elite squad where I got to literally learn from the best.

What would consider the optimal post race treat after a major race..? Hmm I’d have to say going home to loved ones as it doesn’t get to happen much anymore. Also, a nice social event with the other athletes doesn’t go amiss….and allows me to keep practising my talking – you know what they say ‘practice makes perfect’!

I know one of your secrets is a big swig of orange juice straight out of the packet first thing in the morning. Having tried different brands around the world – which country has the best orange juice?! Is there a special brand that works extra well? You are right, I have done extensive, world-wide research into this matter and the only stipulations I have are that it is fresh (not from concentrate) and that I get to swig it straight from the bottle/carton – sooo much better that way! I could be persuaded to mention a brand or two but they aren’t sponsoring me so I’m not going to give them any free advertising!

Which three girls do you think make it to the podium in Hamburg. And who is the dark horse out there..? Oooo tough question! Not sure I can predict it…but that’s the beauty of our sport right?! I’d love to see all the D-Squad girlies achieving good results (including myself) and one on the podium would be a fab result for the group.

Good luck in Hamburg Vicky! Thanks Lis! You too!

Well, I guess I’ll get some air time on TV as the cameras are sure to be on her a fair bit before the start! And I don’t really feel anything one way or another about starting next to Emma….I’d feel pretty damn awesome to finish one number better than her though!

Different athlete, same girl – still talks too much, enjoys life and likes sleeping but I just happen to be good at what I do now!

Tough to be away for so long, but it’s worked pretty well so far. Skype is useful! On the house front…I think I had a good idea running away when we bought it as it needs a lot of work so I’ve left that to my ‘project manager’ haha!

The biggest changes were consistency, technical emphasis and living the ’simple life’ of eating sleeping and training. As for what made me improve so quickly, I think it was a combination of all those things, altitude (which seems to work for me) and being part of an elite squad where I got to literally learn from the best.

Hmm I’d have to say going home to loved ones as it doesn’t get to happen much anymore. Also, a nice social event with the other athletes doesn’t go amiss….and allows me to keep practising

my talking – you know what they say ‘practice makes perfect’!

You are right, I have done extensive, world-wide research into this matter and the only stipulations I have are that it is fresh (not from concentrate) and that I get to swig it straight from the bottle/carton – sooo much better that way! I could be persuaded to mention a brand or two but they aren’t sponsoring me so I’m not going to give them any free advertising!

Oooo tough question! Not sure I can predict it…but that’s the beauty of our sport right?! I’d love to see all the D-Squad girlies achieving good results (including myself) and one on the podium would be a fab result for the group.

Thanks Lis! You too!