As the world prepares to unite to celebrate a Summer of Sport, TCL has shared exclusive insights from Brand Ambassador Brock Whiston, GB’s Para-Swimmer Champion and Four-Time World Record Holder. In this in-depth interview, Whiston discusses the importance of technology in her training regimen, offers valuable advice to young athletes, and shares her thoughts on what it takes to inspire greatness.

A true pioneer of Inspiring Greatness, diagnosed with left-sided hemiplegia at the age of 17, Brock has transcended barriers and redefined the limits of her achievements, using swimming as a form of therapy. She adapted her techniques to make the most out of her strengths, winning 4 gold medals and becoming a World Champion.

As Whiston reminisces about her early days in sports, she notes, “I was never afraid to dream big and work hard. My advice to young aspiring athletes, especially those facing any adversities, would be to believe in yourself. We all make mistakes but it’s about how you learn from them which makes you great.’

Defining Moments and Inspiration:

Throughout her career, Brock Whiston has experienced several defining moments. When asked about the most significant one, she recalls, ‘Winning gold in the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in record time has to be up there. After months of hard work and training, I was confident we were going to take home the gold, but I didn’t think we would take it by quite so much. A result of truly amazing teamwork.’

The winning time of 4:36.31 was more than enough to seal a comprehensive gold, fully 22 seconds ahead of the silver-medal-winning United States.

Whiston draws inspiration from many individuals, stating, “A lot of people continue to inspire me. My team, the amazing support staff, the coaches, my fellow athletes and then the amazing crowds cheering you on throughout the games. I find every single one inspires and motivates me to do what I do.’

Pre-and-Post Competition: Routines and Reactions:

Discussing her pre-competition routine, Whiston explains ‘I listen to music on my TCL 50 5G to make sure I am in the correct headspace, ready for competition. I will also call up my family and friends as they always know the right thing to say.’ Her response confirms what the majority of professional athletes do pre-competition. Listening to music before competing has been proven as doing more than hyping an athlete. It activates the amygdala, which is the section of the brain that processes emotions. When this is activated it increases our ability to consolidate memories.

According to Brock, the most challenging aspect of being a para-swimmer is managing the training alongside her day-to-day life. As well as being a world champion swimmer, Brock also works for a local primary school as a teaching assistant where she looks after kids with additional needs. ‘I work really long days to fit in my training and job as a teaching assistant for kids with additional needs’ she explains. ‘I will go for a session before work at around 5 am and then head to the gym again after my shift for further training’, ‘It is all so worth it when you love what you do!’.

Inspiring Greatness: Defining Success and Legacy:

Whiston’s definition of greatness in sport is: ‘The work you put in consistently, no matter what the outcome’. Brock believes that working hard on your craft means you can always be proud of the result you achieve. As we know, athletes have a winning mentality but knowing you have put your all into your training and focusing on your goal, the journey on how you get there is just as important. ‘Inspiring greatness to other athletes and people around you means bringing them along for the journey, not just the end result’.

When considering the legacy she wishes to leave, Brock takes a moment to reflect on her career so far. ‘I am really proud of what I have accomplished so far in my career. The goal is to continue improving and show those with disabilities that you are able to achieve whatever you put your mind to. I want people to know that no matter what limitation you might have, you can use it to your strength’.

Technology Empowering Athletes:

Technology plays a pivotal role in Brock’s training and preparation as well as post-competition routines. Brock explains, ‘I use technology to watch back my races and take my TCL NXTPAPER 11 Tablet everywhere so I can assess my performance on the go.  Watching through my races with my coaches then means we can put a plan in place for training going forward’.

‘’Technology is such an integral part of day-to-day life now. I rely on my TCL NXTPAPER 11 Tablet to allow me to switch off after a big day of training and rest. TCL NXTPAPER technology is perfect for reading so I can just tune into a good book, catch up on the lessons I am planning for my students or even just go over my schedule for the week, so I always feel prepared.’’

Q&A with Brock Whiston

PERSONAL INSIGHTS: EARLY INSPIRATIONS AND ADVICE

Q: Which beliefs or advice from your childhood have you carried with you to your current success in swimming?

A: “I was never afraid to dream big and work hard.”

Q: What do you miss the most about your early days in sports?

A: “Achieving my first major milestones! You will never forget your first wins”

Q: What advice would you give to young aspiring athletes?

A: “My advice to young aspiring athletes, especially those facing any adversities, would be to believe in yourself. We all make mistakes but it’s about how you learn from them which makes us great”.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: DEFINING MOMENTS AND INSPIRATIONS

Q: What do you consider to be the defining moment of your athletic career?

A: “Winning gold in the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in record time has to be up there! After months of hard work and training, I was confident we were going to take home the gold, but I didn’t think we would take it by quite so much. A result of truly amazing teamwork.”

Q: Who or what inspired you the most to pursue your career and become the athlete you are today?

A: “A lot of people continue to inspire me. My team, the amazing support staff, the coaches, my fellow athletes and then the amazing crowds cheering you on through the games. I find every single one inspires and motivates me to do what I do.”

PRE-AND-POST COMPETITION: ROUTINES AND REACTIONS

Q: Do you have a specific pre-competition routine? If yes, what is it?

A: “I “listen to music on my TCL 50 5G to make sure I am in the correct headspace, ready for competition. I will also call up my family and friends as they always know the right thing to say.”

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of being a swimmer, and how do you overcome it?

A: “I work really long days to fit in my training and job as a teaching assistant for kids with additional needs. I will go for a session before work at around 5 am and then head to the gym again after my shift for further training. It is all worth it when you love what you do.”

INSPIRING GREATNESS: DEFINING SUCCESS AND LEGACY

Q: How do you define greatness in sports?

A: “The work you put in consistently, no matter what the outcome”.

Q: What characteristics should an athlete possess to inspire others?

A: “Inspiring greatness to other athletes and people around you, means bringing them along for the journey, not just the end result.”

Q: What legacy do you want to leave, both in athletics and in life?

A: “I am really proud of what I have accomplished so far in my career. The goal is to continue improving and show those with disabilities that you are able to achieve whatever you put your mind to. I want people to know that no matter the limitations you might have, you can use it to your strength.”

TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERING ATHLETES

Q: What role does technology, particularly TCL’s products, play in your training and preparation for competitions?

A: “I use my TCL NXTPAPER 11 Tablet to watch back my races and to see where I can make improvements whilst on the go. Also, watching and assessing my races with my coaches then means we can put a plan in place for training going forward.”

Q: How do you see the role of innovation and technology in the future of athletics?’

A: ‘’Technology is such an integral part of day-to-day life now. I rely on my TCL NXTPAPER 11 Tablet to allow me to switch off after a big day of training and rest. TCL NXTPAPER technology is perfect for reading so I can just tune into a good book, catch up on the lessons I am planning for my students or even just go over my schedule for the week, so I always feel prepared.’’