Bonnie Macdonald

Details

Category: Swimming

How did you become involved in swimming?

My parents had me enrolled in swim lessons when i was 10 months old and i they haven't been able to stop me since.

Who is your sporting hero?

I think my sporting hero would have to be Laura Manadoue in the swimming world, as she is such an incredible swimmer and she was one of the reasons i choose distance freestyle. My other sporting hero is Darren Lockyer. He is an absolutely incredible all round athlete, leader and displays every aspect of sportsmanship i hope to embody.

Age you started in your sport?

I started swimming lessons when i was 10 months old and began competing when i was 5.

Height, weight, age?

I am currently 16 years old, 55kg and 170cm

Accreditations/degrees/qualifications?

I am completely my schooling at the moment.

What motivates you to continue in your sport?

I think that just the chance to be the best in something that i love doing is a real draw card and motivator as well as hopefully inspiring the next generation to work hard and reach the same standards. Also i think sport can open alot of doors for you later in life as people know that you are determined, a hard-worker, motivated and many other qualities people are looking for.

What motivated you to start your sport?

My love for the water and my competitive edge.

What is your current business/job?

I am in Grade 11 and am now doing homeschooling to fit in with my swimming commitments

Who do you race for club/state?

I race for Miami Swimming Club on the Gold Coast

People that have inspired you both in sport and life?

I think the obvious answer is my parents. They have done endless amounts for me to help me achieve my best. Next would be my many coaches over the years who have all given me something different that has formed the athlete i am today.

Great experiences that have happened in your life?

My greatest experience would have to be Winning the 2011 Junior World Championship for the 800 freestyle and breaking the Junior World Record. Also winning being a two-time national champion and getting to represent my country twice at a senior  Fina Open Water World Championship.

Your interests and hobbies?

I love to shop,spend time with my parents, cook, sleep, read and exercise. I also love to work with younger swimmers.

One tip or quote that continues to inspire you?

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

Family Background(where did you grow up) and Current Family

I have moved around a lot! i have lived 11 houses. I was born in Newcastle, NSW, and spent my first few years of my life on a farm in the Hunter Valley. I then moved to Newcastle for a couple of years and then up to the Gold Coast and have been here for 11 years now. My family consists of myself, my mum, my dad and my Staffy Angus.

What is your happiest memory?

I have had too many happy moments in life to pick one!

Who did you idolize growing up?

I think the people i idolize most are my parents. They have both been so successful in life and i hope that i can live up to their expectations.

Were you always one of the better athletes growing up?

Yes, i have always been one of the better athletes since i began swimming. I was quite small in junior swimming (i still am small in comparison with a lot of swimmers) so this made it difficult but my competitive edge and technique often gave me the upper hand. I have also been quite successful in cross-country running.

What is one thing you would share with the children wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I would definitely say to them that hard work is the key to success. Whether it be in sport, academia or any other aspect of life - you don't reach the top unless you work harder than the others that surround you.

How has being involved/playing your sport changed your life?

I have learnt so much from my sport! i have learnt many life lessons and qualities that without sport it may have taken me a lot longer to grasp the concept of. I have been able to travel the world and meet some of my best friends from other countries whilst competing. I am have learnt what it takes to do well in life and this will follow me forever.

Who has been your biggest supporter?

My biggest supporter has once again been my parents. Seeing there is only my mum, dad and me in my family we are extremely, extremely close and have a fantastic relationship. They have seen all my hardships and triumphs and have been with me since the first day of my life. They simply know me.

Who has been your best coach?

I believe every coach has given me something different. I am extremely lucky to be coached by one of the world's best coaches at the moment, Denis Cotterell. His experience and knowledge is something that has helped transform and step up to the next level of competition.

Sporting Background and current list of results/achievements?

I started swimming lessons when i was 10 months old, progressed through mini squads at the Hunter Swim School in Newcastle, moved to the Gold Coast and started training properly and competing when i was 4/5 years old. Since then i have moved clubs a few times and have progressed from school state, to school nationals and school national medalist. I then began competing at QLD State Age, where i am a multiple gold medal winner, medal winner and State record holder. After state i moved into National Age, where i have won multiple national age group gold medals and have held age group Australian records.

My first junior Australian Team was Trans Tasman in 2009.

In 2010 i attended my first ever Open Water Nationals and won the open women's 5km national title and was selected to compete at my first senior Open Water World Championships later that year in Roberval, Canada. In the pool that year, i attended my first ever Open Nationals and then competed at age nationals a few weeks later where i was selected to compete on a junior Australian Team at the Junior Pan Pacs in Maui, Hawaii. At Junior Pan Pacs i won a gold medal in the 1500 freestyle and a silver medal in the 800 freestyle.

In 2011 i won my second Open women's 5km national title and was selected to compete at the 14th Fina World Championships in Shanghai, China. In the pool i competed at both age nationals and open nationals and place 3rd in the women's 1500 freestyle at open nationals as well as multiple medals at age nationals. I was selected on another Junior Australian Team to compete at the Fina Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru.

At the junior world championships i won a gold medal and broke the junior world record in the 800 freestyle as well as placing second in the 400 freestyle and being part of the 4x200 freestyle relay in which we placed 3rd. At my senior world championships i have placed in the top 20. This year i have not been able to compete thus far due to an injury.

Favourite Foods/Diet you follow?

I follow a high protein, restricted carb diet. This enables me to maintain a low body fat percentage. I do love food though and enjoy my 1 cheat meal every week. My favourite meal would have to be steak and salad as well as icecream and my specialty in the kitchen - cupcakes.

Your typical training split and favourite thing to train?

i train 10 swim sessions a week which are about 2.5hr each. I also do two 1hr strength and weight sessions a week. i also do 2 40 min pilates sessions to help with my core strength and my rehabilitation of my back.

Worst injury you have suffered?

After an absolutely hectic 18 months of travelling, training and competing i suffered quite a severe last part of 2011, i was on and off sick for a long time and then at the start of 2012 i obtained a chronic back injury, which i am only just recovering from. This put me out of contention for both the Olympic Trials and National Age Trials this year and forced me to take 3.5 weeks out of the water.

What is the ultimate prize in your sport?

The ultimate prize in swimming would be an Olympic gold medal and a world record. This is followed closely by winning a world championship gold.

What do you find to be the toughest aspect of your sport?

I think getting up for Monday morning training is the worst part of my sport. Especially in winter!

What is your favourite movie?

My favourite movie of all time is the Lord of the rings Trilogy!

What one lesson did you take from your parents?

Perfect preparation produces perfect performance.

How do you deal with temptation?

Dealing with temptation is very difficult but with discipline i can resist it, also always allowing myself room to move and be flexible is ery important.

What is your favourite music/band/song?

I can't go past rap and hip-hop music as pump up music, especially eminem. I am really open to any sort of music as i am a singer as well but i love belting out a good pop song like lady gaga. I love working out in the gym to anything fast paced and has a good base - electro, dubstep, house, techno.

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is not living up to my expectations and not achieving what i believe i am capable of.

Do you believe "never giving up" is the difference between making it and not making it in any sport?

I think that "never giving up" is a big part and can be the difference of whether an athlete makes it or doesn't. But i also believe it isn't the only factor; sport consists of so many tiny details that if you forget any of them it can make a substantial difference.

Have you ever failed at anything? If yes how did you overcome this?

Everybody has failures, but it is the spirit to keep going and the will to succeed that will get you to the next level. Every Time you fail, you learn, and the next time you fail, you fail a bit better, until you get it exactly how you want it. I love this quote from Michael Jordon on failure: "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

What inspired you to succeed?

Myself and my aspirations in life.

What did you want to be as a kid growing up?

I have always wanted to be a world class swimmer and then follow in my parents footsteps of being an investment banker.

Your future goals in your sports, and goals when you finish your sport?

My future goals in sport are to continue representing Australia and competing at the highest possible level. I hope to attend college in the United States in the next couple of years and continue my training over there. I want to get a great education as well as being able to do something i love. I hope to compete at the upcoming short course world championships in Istanbul later this year as well as in the Fina World Championships in Barcelona, spain in 2013 and many other world championships after that. I also would love to compete in the commonwealth games and the Olympics. Hopefully someday i will be able to stand up on an international medal podium representing Australia. After swimming i want to stay fit, and may go into Figure Modelling as well as taking my education and hopefully going into the business world of finance.

If you could have dinner with 5 people who would they be?

My Mum, Dad, Ryan Lochte, Laura Mandoue and my best friend.

What is one item you cannot live without?

I cannot live without my hair brush. I have long, blonde hair and i am continueously brushing it!

People you would like to thank?

I really wouldn't be where i am without my wonderful parents who have never, ever stopped believing in me and have been there for me from the first second of my life. I also couldn't have done this without all my coaches, present and past, and any professionals i have sought advice from. My friends and my squad are so supportive and help me with all the tough times.

• CLICK_TO_ENLARGE CLICK_TO_ENLARGE
• CLICK_TO_ENLARGE CLICK_TO_ENLARGE
• CLICK_TO_ENLARGE CLICK_TO_ENLARGE
• CLICK_TO_ENLARGE CLICK_TO_ENLARGE
• CLICK_TO_ENLARGE CLICK_TO_ENLARGE