Exclusive interview with Sportsman of the Year Rodney Govinden |02 February 2016

‘If you want to achieve a goal, plan how you will get to it step by step and work towards it’

It has only been a few short days since he was crowned Sportsman of the Year 2015 and with him still digesting his victory, Sports Nation paid Rodney Govinden a visit.

Govinden, 31, was all smiles as I met him at his office at the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). He has been employed with the SFA as a senior fisheries scientist for the last eight years. So, after the usual greetings our conversation began…

Sports Nation: The Sportsman of the Year title is one you will carry for a whole year, what does it represent to you?

Govinden: For me, it represents a big achievement and also a great responsibility because every athlete and even the public will be looking at me and monitoring my performances closely. But I am taking it as a challenge and it will surely motivate me to work harder to be able to defend the title.

Sports Nation: How would you describe the competitions you took part in last year?

Govinden: I took part in the World Championship and a few others in Europe, but the most important one was the African Championship and it was very intense, especially we had a lot of pressure on us to qualify for the Olympics and we managed to remain calm and perform well.

Sports Nation: You have now qualified for this year’s Olympics Games, what is your aim once you get there?

Govinden: I will give my all to perform at my best and with the forthcoming competition and training camp will be able to test myself against some of the top sailors and that will give me an idea of what to expect there. My main aim though is to definitely do the best I can.

Sports Nation: Going back to the beginning now, my question is why sailing and not something else?

Govinden: Well, it all began when one of my schoolmates, who was at that time doing sailing, would always talk about it and that really got my brothers and I excited about it and so we ended up joining sailing. It’s a sport that really makes you feel free, especially when you are out on the open water.

Sports Nation: You are now the best sailor in Seychelles. How was it when you first started in the sport?

Govinden: Well, I started in the smaller boats – the Optimist class – and as I grew older I moved on to the Laser 4.7 and eventually went directly to Laser Standard. During that time it was difficult for me as my body weight was too light for the sail. So I had to increase my weight to better perform. It was not easy but I persevered and got this far.

Sports Nation: You have also been competing against your twin brother over the years. How can you describe the competition between the two of you?

Govinden: Well, we always try to be better sailor than the other. We always push each other to perform better and this has helped both of us. We are always there to support each other though.

Sports Nation: What are some of the sacrifices one needs to make to be able to be a good sailor?

Govinden: You have to dedicate your time to it and you have to have a good fitness plan. But, honestly if you enjoy the sport, then nothing will seem like a sacrifice.

Sports Nation: What are some of the skills needed to compete in such a sport?

Govinden: You need to have good boat handling skills of course, but you also need to have a good fitness level as the fitter you are then the faster you will be able to use your boat. You also need to be very focused so that you can read the direction of the wind to increase your speed, etc…

Sports Nation: You have been in this sport for a long time. What changes have you seen since you began up till now?

Govinden: Well, there a few things that have changed. For example, at the beginning when I first started, much of the attention and funding was going towards Allan Julie, but now that has changed a lot, especially when it comes to international competitions, where all athletes can get the chance to compete and the younger ones get more opportunities to develop and get more encouragement to continue.

Sports Nation: What do you think needs to be done to get more youth to join the sport?

Govinden: Well, I think that we need to go towards the schools as we need to get closer to them to identify them. But, it is difficult as there are not enough coaches and also the training area is far from some schools. But these are some weaknesses that can be addressed in the future.

Sports Nation: Were you expecting to win the Sportsman of the Year title?

Govinden: I wasn’t expecting to win, so I was a bit shocked, but I do think my results are deserving of the title. The judges surely put the Olympic qualification high among the criteria and I’m very happy to win this award as this is always the dream for any athlete, especially after watching Allan Julie win it six times.

Sports Nation: Has Allan Julie been a real influence on you?

Govinden: Of course he has. We are training under his guidance and he gives us a lot of tips. We heed his advice and deep down I want to be a much better sailor than him.

Sports Nation: Do you have any words of advice for other aspiring sportsman out there?

Govinden: I would tell them to be serious in their sport and to educate themselves on how best to improve their performance, rather than just relying on coaches all the time. If you want to achieve a goal, plan how you will get to it step by step and work towards it.

Sports Nation: Finally, is there anything else you wish to add?

Govinden: I want to thank the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association for giving me the Olympic scholarship which has helped me a lot, the Seychelles Yachting Association, the National Sports Council and also my parents, brothers and sisters for their encouragement. I also want to thank my colleagues at work who were very supportive and believed that I would win the Sportsman of the Year title even when I didn’t believe it.

Interview conducted by S. N.