Josh Beaver Commonwealth Games Athlete and USANA Interview

Josh Beaver Commonwealth Games Athlete and USANA Interview

Josh Beaver began swimming at the age of 6 months, after being diagnosed with asthma. He did swimming lessons with the YCMA before joining his first swimming club, Cranbourne Tigersharks at the age of 9. He fell in love with swimming and being in a squad environment.

He is a member of the Victorian Institute of Sport and is currently training 9 sessions per week with Nurawading Swimming Club and race 100 & 200 Backstroke.

His first senior Australia Team was the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games where he had a breakout meet, claimed silver in the 200 backstroke, be part of a 1,2,3 finish for Australia, silver as a member of the 4x100 medley relay and bronze in the 100 backstroke. Currently he is the world 7th in the 200 backstroke and 13th in the 100 backstroke.

He is now also a USANA Health Sciences ambassador. USANA is one of the world's leading producers of high quality supplements, and he credits his use of USANA's Healthpak, BiOmega, Vitamins and Protein Snacks to his ability to stay healthy and maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet.

Being a professional athlete takes persistence and willpower, and Josh has showed these attributes throughout his sporting career. He is determined to be finalist in the 200 backstroke at the 2015 World Swimming Championships in August, Kazan, Russia and medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Interview with Josh Beaver

Question: How does it feel to be a USANA Health Sciences ambassador?

Josh Beaver: It is great to be the ambassador for a product that I believe in and is a part of my daily life. The products are great, convenient and to be a USANA Health Sciences Ambssador is a great opportunity to give back to the product that has given me every opportunity to perform and maintain general health to peak.


Question: Which of the USANA Health Sciences products do you use daily?

Josh Beaver: USANA's Health Pack, Biomega, Procasamine, Vitamin D are all my go-to daily products, they keep me functioning at my optimum level.


Question: Can you talk about what inspired your love of swimming?

Josh Beaver: I can narrow it down to the 2000 Olympics as a 7 year old watching the 4x100 freestyle relay. The team put everything on the line for their country, and the way Ian Thorpe swam over the top of Gary Hall Junior in the final leg, really inspired myself. The passion for swimming today lives stronger than ever for myself, with less than 12 months until Rio, to be labelled an Olympian and compete for this nation would be a dream come true.

Question: What's a typical day like, for you?

Josh Beaver: 5am wake up
5.10am light breakfast
35 minute commute to training
6am-8am Training
8am-9am Gym
9.15am breakfast
9.30-10.30 Treatment, either massage, physio, sport psych, doctor, nutrition
12pm lunch
1pm-2.30pm Nap
3pm commute to training
4pm-6pm Training
7pm Dinner
8.30pm-9pm Bed


Question: Can you share with us your training schedule?

Josh Beaver: Monday 6am-8am Swim
Monday 1.30pm-3pm Gym Monday 3pm-4pm Swim

Tuesday 6am-8am Swim
Tuesday 8am-9am Gym
Tuesday 4pm-6pm Swim

Wednesday 1.30pm-3pm Gym
Wednesday 3pm-4pm Swim

Thursday 6am-8am Swim
Thursday 8am-9am Gym
Thursday 4pm-6pm Swim

Friday 10am-12pm Swim

Saturday 6am-8am Swim
Saturday 8am-9.15am Gym


Question: How do you motivate yourself to push through when you're tired?

Josh Beaver: I have 2 opportunities for 2 hours at a time for most days of the week to advance in my training. For those 2 hours, I focus on what is important in the here and now. The moment training is over, it's a time to switch off and recover, so that the next day or training session my batteries are recharged. Totalling 4 hours a day of effort, broken down into 2 hours of actually maximal effort, I am willing to put my body through this to succeed my dream of representing Australia at Rio.


Question: How important is diet and lifestyle to your training?

Josh Beaver: It is a significant part of training, and particular lifestyle. Feeding your body with the right foods, and in particular for my chosen sport at the right time of the day is key to my development and advancing in my training load, resulting is greater performance.

Question: What has been your biggest achievement in your swimming career, to date?

Josh Beaver: 2x Silver medallist 1x Bronzer Medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games


Question: Do you enjoy the competitiveness of the sport?

Josh Beaver: I certainly do. To be competitive is a trait of mine, and that then can be transformed into everyday life. I see it as a healthy element of the mind, to be competitive, something that can add to your character.


Question: What is between you and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games?

Josh Beaver: Roughly 180 days. In that 180 days, the need to put in place a few key training elements, that at the end of the 180 days, you can display. Those includes, mental toughness building, general health building, fitness, strength, health practices and anything else this is going to accommodate peak performance on the 7th of April 2016.


Question: What advice do you have for aspiring athletes?

Josh Beaver: Be resilient is everything you do. Take pride is the task at hand, and apply yourself to whatever may be the situation.


Interview by Brooke Hunter