BUENOS AIRES: Olympic gold medallist and modern pentathlon superstar, Chloe Esposito, answered some of the most burning questions of Australia’s Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) modern pentathlon representative, Nikita Mawhirt.
Seventeen year-old Mawhirt quizzed Esposito on topics such as training tips, motivation and resilience, with the seasoned veteran providing valuable advice that all aspiring athletes can learn from.
As the highest ranked female Oceania competitor for the YOG Qualifiers, Mawhirt will join 87 other young Aussie athletes in Argentina next week.
Esposito is also on board as the ‘Young Changemaker’, someone who is there to support, motivate and guide the YOG team throughout their journey.
Nikita: What is your best advice for competing on a world stage, like the Youth Olympics?
Chloe: The YOG is going to be such an amazing experience! If I could’ve told myself anything when I competed at my first big international competition it would’ve been not to focus too much on the result. The hard work has already been done in training so just have a bit of fun with it all. The only person you need to show what you’re capable of is you!
Nikita: You’d have first-hand experience in how demanding modern pentathlon is as a sport, both physically and mentally. You also know about all the sacrifices you need to make. How did you know the sport was definitely something you wanted to pursue and dedicate your life to?
Chloe: You’re definitely right! Modern pentathlon is a sport that you have to sacrifice a lot for, as training for five sports is a full-time job. I always knew I loved the sport and all it’s different elements from a young age. I had in the back of my mind that if I trained really hard and put as much time and effort into it as possible, something great would come of it, just like anything in life.
Nikita: What are some of your top tips for modern pentathlon training and what advice would you give to someone who one day hopes to compete at the Olympic Games?
Chloe: The work you put into training will show itself in competition. Maybe not in the first few years, but it will definitely fall into place. Training is the competition for me, it’s the hardest part but by doing it, I know that when I get onto that start line, I’m ready.
Nikita: After a bad training session or competition, what helps you stay in a positive mind frame and not give up on yourself?
Chloe: I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason. In that moment I’ll be upset or sad, but once I assess everything it pushes me to work on the things that didn’t go as well. You also have to remember that your body isn’t a machine, some days are going to be better than others and that’s ok! But also having someone to talk to about everything helps so much. I am lucky enough to have my brother, Max, who is in the same boat so he really understands how I'm feeling during those times.
With less than two weeks before competition starts, excitement is at an all-time high for our YOG squad. You can keep up to date with results along with the athletes experiences by following along on our social media channels.
Liana Buratti
olympics.com.au
