TAKE 5: Ace Swimmer

Kanyali Ilako started swimming at six years, and participated in her first international competition at the age of 10. She has swum for Kenya at the Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games, World University Games and been a gold medallist at the CANA Zone 3 and 4 Games. She held the 16 and over 50m breaststroke Kenya National Record for three years. She holds a double Master’s degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology from the University of Thessaly in Greece and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

1.  What made you start swimming in the first place? What is the most important lesson that mastering the water has taught you?

Both my parents were young athletes. My mum was a swimmer and so encouraged my siblings and I to pick up the sport. The most important lesson has been that mental toughness is the key to success, something I have tried to apply in all facets of my life.

2.  What made you decide to study what you are studying, other than your obvious love for athletics?

My twin passions have always been psychology and sports. One of my greatest fascinations is why the mind works the way it does. Sports/performance psychology is the perfect blend of this. At the end of the day, everyone needs to perform in one way or another, so with what I am studying, I am not just limited to working with athletes, but anybody who values performing at the highest level - CEO’s, musicians, name it.

3. Many young swimmers look up to you as their role model. Who would you say is yours?

Marko Mavela. He is a Finnish sports psychologist and Olympic swim coach whom I had the privilege to work with during my studies. He epitomises the title, life coach, in my opinion. Two of his swimmers are representing their home country in the 2016 Olympics.

4.  What is the biggest reward you have ever given yourself?

Starting my own swimming club (Torpedoz) in 2013. I started it as a way to make extra money while applying to grad school, and it turned into one of the biggest joys of my life. Working with kids reminds you of how the simplest things can bring joy to your life.

5. What do you think is the way forward for Kenya, considering the instances of hate speech that have been reported in the news?

Kenyan politics has become too divisive. We seem to focus more on where the leaders are from, rather than the impact they have on their communities. The real issues (poverty, development, education and healthcare) are the ones that nobody in government or the opposition is addressing - the issues of the common mwananchi.

I think many Kenyan youth, myself included, yearn for a leader who spends his time interacting with his constituency to make it better, instead of bashing his opponents or enriching his pockets.