Interview

1. Your passion for long-distance running was sparked by a significant personal experience. Can you share more about the journey that led you to take up running, especially the 1000km run in memory of your late friend, Rebecca Zammit Lupi?
When I started running, it wasn’t something where I said Ok, I want to start running!  It was sort of me deciding to go out, maybe for a run.  Then it transpired into something bigger.  When it came to honouring Rebecca’s memory, I wanted to plant a tree in her memory to remember what she had given throughout her lifetime. 

Together with the school we put forward the idea to plant this tree.  However, I believed that although this was a good idea, nothing ever came of it.  So, then I wanted to take the matters into my own hands and do something in memory of her that she would be proud of. 

2. Your 1000km run not only served as a personal challenge but also raised over €10,000 for Puttinu Cares. How did this experience impact you personally, and what role do you believe sports can play in making a positive difference in the community?
Even though it was difficult at times, I did enjoy the challenge of running on a daily basis, starting running from close to practically nothing.  It impacted me very positively, both mentally and physically. 

I believe that when it comes to charity work, it shows that this can be done through sports and that great things can come through sports not just for the community but also from a personal perspective.  I hope it inspires other athletes to go out and do something for the community even if it is not through their sport but through other areas.  It would be great if more people could work together for the benefit of the community.

3. Currently studying Sports and Physical Activity, how do your academic pursuits complement your passion for sports?
When it comes to learning, academic pursuits do complement my passion for sports. I chose to come and study at the Institute for Physical Education and Sport at the University of Malta mainly because I would love to become a Physical Education teacher and also a running coach in the near future. 

What I tell myself when I go running and when I go training, I am not only doing it for myself and my passion but also for my future career and gaining further experience.

4. Are there specific aspects of your studies that you find particularly beneficial to your athletic journey?
For sure.  When you learn about the anatomy, nutrition, and certain bodily functions, that we learn in the various study units really does helps as it teaches you stuff that you did not know before and which you can apply to your running techniques and to other areas of life as well so it’s been very useful so far.

5. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals in the field of long-distance running and other sports? How do you envision combining your academic knowledge with your practical experience to further excel in your athletic pursuits?
When it comes to this, I really just want to keep on improving as a runner, becoming the best runner I can possibly be.  Not only that, but also turning into the best possible athlete I can be, being a bit more of an all-rounder as well.  That means participating in other sport disciplines but obviously the main focus being on running, thus trying to get a little stronger, more flexible as these aspects are going to help in other areas of life as well.  Hopefully these can be transferred towards coaching in other areas of life. 

My target is to run a 5K in under 15 minutes one day and maybe try and win a few titles.  That would be really nice.