Tag Archives: team GB

Are the Brits any good at Bobsleigh?

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Adam Hames Team GB Bobsleigh Pilot
14 Aug

Are the Brits any good at Bobsleigh?  FitBites are excited to announce Adam Hames as our newest ambassador.  Adam Has some exciting credentials and is currently training hard for the 2022 Winter Olympics as Team GBs Bobsleigh Pilot. We fired a few quick questions at Adam.

Adam Hames 

I started my sporting career as a karate athlete at the young age of 4 and have amassed several British and English titles. I became Wado-Kai European Champion in 2014 at just 15 years old. I then made the switch to bobsleigh after attending an open trial at Loughborough University in the summer of 2015.

I have now competed all over the world for Great Britain including travelling to countries such as Canada, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Germany where I finished 4th in the World at the  Youth Monobob World Cup (1-man bobsleigh).

I am now 18 and part of the senior GB team having made my 2-man debut at the British Championships where I finished a credible 6th last November.
Now I am training hard towards the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in hope to become the first British summer and winter Olympian.

Interview answers:

Q I expect you have been asked this many time but how did you become a bob sleigh pilot?

I attended an open trial at Loughborough University having heard them advertising for youth athletes to join the Great Britain Team. I turned up in shorts a t-shirt and a pair of old trainers to see everyone else kitted up in their best spikes and Lycra. I then passed all the sprint, pushing and jumping tests they put everyone through and progressed to the next stage of tests in Bath. I then impressed the coaches and became one of four boys selected to represent GB in the Omega Monobon World Series (1-man bobsleigh). I then went on to finish 2nd in my first international race in Lillehammer, Norway which is where my career kick started, I have then gone on to compete for Great Britain all over the globe including Canada, Austria, Germany and Switzerland to name a few.

Q It’s not a sport that you would expect the Brits to be any good at….are we?

Yes, at all levels youth, junior and senior Britain are consistently a top 10 team at all major championships. The GB1 4-man team piloted by recently retired John Jackson finished 5th at the Sochi Olympics.

Q What does a typical training day look like for you?

An average day for me consists of two training sessions, either a sprint, gym, swimming, karate or plyometric training. I’m currently still studying for my A-level exams and will be going to The University of Bath in September, so my training fits around my studies. As well as sport and school I also enjoy spending time with my family, friends and girlfriend.

Q What races through your mind when you’re are on the start line for a big competition?

Standing on the start line staring down the track in any competition is a nerve-racking feeling but the big competitions are completely different. I’m pretty good with handling adrenaline and nerves so most of the time the only thing going through my mind is being as aggressive and strong at the start during the push then as calm and collected to ensure I deliver a smooth fast drive down the track.

Q How do you relax when you are not training or studying?

Sport is a big part of who I am and what I’m about so if I’m not in the gym or at the track I enjoy playing other sports with friends such as football and badminton. I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend who is incredibly supportive of my sport especially when it comes to going away for weeks on end competing abroad. Having a balance between social life and sport is incredibly important for me.

Q Which is your favourite FitBites flavour and why do you like them?

Definitely the apricot and spirulina flavour! I think FitBites are great as a pre work out snack to boost energy levels before a hard training session and that’s why I love them!

Victoria Pendleton’s Diet and Fitness Program

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Victoria Pendleton
15 Mar

Two-time Olympic gold medal winner, Victoria Pendleton MBE, is arguably one of the most celebrated athletes Great Britain has ever produced. On paper, she’s the epitome of what sportsmen and women dream of, having accomplished a lot of things at such a young age. Today, at 36-years-old, even though she’s retired from the sport of cycling, the native of Stotfold, Bedfordshire still finds ways to compete; this time on a different saddle.

Victoria Pendleton found a new passion in horse racing. Back in March 2015, she announced her intention to become a jockey with the aim of competing at a host of high profile events. Pendleton made her spirited debut five months after, racing and claiming second place in the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Riders’ Handicap at Ripon Riding Royal Etiquette.

From there, Pendleton’s stock rose. She went under the tutelage of renowned horse trainer and journalist, Paul Nicholls, who also regularly contributes expert tips on Betfair and its extensive coverage of the Grand National among other events. The following year, along with her thoroughbred, Pacha Du Polder competed in other major events such as the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, where she placed fifth. This, according to her, was “probably the greatest achievement” of her life.

In hindsight, Victoria Pendleton wouldn’t have been able to get this far without proper discipline when it comes to her diet and her training. During Pendleton’s 2014 interview with Poorna Bell of The Huffington Post, she revealed how she regularly eats healthy snacks like almond butter and olives. She also advised readers to chop up carrot sticks and dip them in hummus for another guilt-free snacking option.

Being a vegetarian, Pendleton regularly consumes either homemade muesli or granola bars or mixed fruits with yogurt for breakfast. Lunchtime normally features something like corn thin crackers, avocado, and a few slices of tomato and cheese. For dinner, Pendleton loves making Thai or Indian food heavy with vegetables, as well as other forms of protein. These cuisines also underline savoury flavour profiles.

During her cycling career, Victoria Pendleton wasn’t allowed to run as her trainers advised her against it. It was because the exercise mainly focuses on quad muscles, while running is mainly for hamstrings and calves. Also, her coaches didn’t want her to be at risk of any injury. Now since she’s retired, she puts in a lot of roadwork for cardio, jogging four or five times a week.

In terms of strength and conditioning exercises, Pendleton does body weight and kettlebell training. Her focus is to build much-needed upper body strength in order to endure the rigors of horse racing. She’s also into boxing, which perfectly combines power, speed, and cardio.

All in all, Victoria Pendleton isn’t just one of those retired Olympians who savour life after sport and give up their strict exercise and diet routine. She represents athletes who not just find different passions outside their usual ventures, but also take care of their bodies by eating right and training well. Be sure to visit Fit Bites’ blog section for more lifestyle tips, celebrity features, and healthy recipes.