I sat down for a Q&A with Dan Highcock a British wheelchair basketball player, Selected to play for Team GB in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
Q. We know you Dan for playing the British wheelchair basketball, Tell me what do you do to prepare yourself for a game?
Dan – THEIRS LOTS OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES IN TERMS OF PREPARATION, THEIRS PHYSICALLY, NUTRITIONALLY, MENTALLY AND THEY ALL PLAY A PART.
PHYSICALLY IM ALWAYS GOOD TO GO, NUTRITIONALLY I MAKE SURE IM FULLY HYDRATED FROM THE TIME I GO TO BED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON GAMEDAY, I LIKE TO EAT A HIGH FAT/PROTEIN LOW CARB BREKKY THEN HALF A HIGH CARB MODERATE PROTEIN/FAT MEAL EARLY AFTERNOON THEN AROUND 60-90 MINS BEFORE TIP OFF I HAVE A CARB DRINK AND AN ESPRESSO.
MENTALLY I DON’T LIKE TO GET TOO HYPED UP AS I TURN INTO A CRAZY MAN AND IT COMPLETELY THROWS ME OFF BALANCE, THE MENTAL SIDE IS SOEMTHING IVE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS….IN A NUTSHELL, I JUST GO OUT WITH SUPREME CONFIDENCE THAT IM GONNA WIN NO MATTER WHAT.
Q. You be doing the Paralympics in Rio this year, Tell me what’s the training like?
D – THE TRAINING IS HARD GOING, SUPER HIGH VOLUME….2-3 TIMES PER DAY 5/6 DAYS P WEEK CONSISTING OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING, ON COURT, VIDEO ANALYSIS
Q. I know you are going to be doing the Guiness world record attempt for charity, Tell me what will you be doing and what charity is it for?
D – I’M PUSHING THE LENGTH OF THE UK, APPROX 1000 MILES IN LESS THAN 8 DAYS 9 HOURS! IM DOING THIS FOR THE STEVE PRESCOTT FOUNDATION,IT’S A HOMETOWN CHARITY.
Q. You love your fitness! Have you ever thought of opening your own gym and doing personal trainers sessions?
D – IM AN ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINER & NUTRITION COACH AND HAVE MY OWN BRAND WWW.HIGH5-FITNESS.CO.UK
OPENING MY OWN GYM IS SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE MAYBE BUT IM SOLELEY CONCENTRATING ON BUILDING MY OWN BRAND FIRST
Q. Your the Genetic Supplements Ambassador, Tell me if you we’re to recommend 3 things to a new person into fitness what would they be?
D – HMMM GENETICS HAVE SOOO MANY GREAT PRODUCTS IT’S A TOUGH QUESTION BUT LETS JUST SAY THAT ITS JUST A NORMAL PERSON LOOKING TO IMPROVE HEALTH….HERES MY 3 PRODUCTS
1-PRO BIOTIC…GUT HEALTH IS KEY TO OVERALL HEALTH AND FITNESS
2-GREEN & REDS POWDER…SO MANY PEOPLE DON’T LIKE EATING VEG THIS IS A GREAT AND CONVENIENT WAY TO ENSURE YOU ARE GETTING ALL THE MICRO NUTRITION AND PHYTONUTRIENTS THAT YOU WOULD OTHERWISE GET FROM EATING VEGETABLES.
3- VITAMIN D3….ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE IN THE UK WHERE IT IS SELDOM SUNNY, THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT VITAMIN THAT WE CANT PRODUCE OURSELVES AND THE MAJORITY ARE DEFFICIENT IN.
Q. What other events do you have planned for 2016?
D – MAYBE A HOLIDAY TO IBIZA OR VEGAS
Q. As a athlete have you got sponsorship or is life hard and should more be done to attract sponsorship?
D – IM SPONSORED FROM GENETIC SUPPLEMENTS AS MENTIONED EARLIER BUT IM ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR NEW BRANDS (OBVIOUSLY NON SPORTS NURITION BRANDS) AND YEAH THEY ARE VERY HARD T COME BY
Q. When was the moment you decided you loved basketball and want to do it professionally?
D – I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT AS SOON AS I 1ST TRIED IT, AS SOON AS THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE, I QUIT SCHOOL AND HAVENT LOOKED BACK SINCE
Q. What could you see yourself doing if you wasn’t playing basketball?
D – I USED TO BE A DJ BUT THE LIFESTYLE DOESN’T FIT THAT OF A PRO ATHLETE SO MAYBE I WOULD HAVE PURSUED THAT WAY, OR SOEMTHING TO DO WITH SPORTS,FITNESS ETC
Dan Online Training & Nutrition site is here http://high5-fitness.co.uk/
Follow him on twitter – https://twitter.com/DanHighcock5
Scott McGlynn 