Today's special guest is Matthias Fenech, 15-year-old LaSallian pupil and athlete specialising in the middle distance with a dream to become a Doctor and later specialising as Surgeon, is the elder brother to Luke 11years and Jacob 9years and left football for good to focus on athletics!
1) Dear Matthias, you are still very young and yet you are already showing great determination of what you want to do and to be. As stated briefly you opted out Football for Athletics, something not common here in Malta especially when you have been playing for Melita for 7 years. At local athletics, we do enjoy some young footballers who practice Athletics too but they choose the other option. Football and Athletics are totally different. One is a team work, the other is an individual Sport. How come with such decision? What lies beneath? What are you aspiring for in Athletics and what inspired you so much to give it all to Athletics?
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for this great opportunity.
It is true that in Malta football seems to attract a lot of children and young adults. In my case, since I was very young, not even walking on my own two feet, I loved kicking the ball. When I started primary school I always wanted to join a football club but my parents always wanted me to be exposed to different sports before choosing football. In fact from the age of 4 I joined Sunshine Sports at St Aloysius College where I was exposed to different sports. But I always wanted to do more sports.
I joined Melita FC Youth Nursery at the age of 7. Football is a team sport from where I made lots of friends from different schools and different walks of life. Athletics on the other hand is an individual sport but it is still about a team and being social. The decision to stop football took me two whole years and the final decision was surely not easy. I chose athletics because working hard as an individual, resulting in personal achievement which really feels good. Also, I was training harder and achieving good timings and I was placed well. I started believing that I was on the right track at being one of the promising athletes in Malta of my age. On the other hand there are much better players in football than myself.
I am aspiring to become one of the best athletes in Malta. The 800m is my main event and would love to become the open National Champion and my aim is to break the National Record which hasn't been broken for many years. It would be a dream come through for me to compete in the best international competitions like Small Nations Games, Commonwealth Games and the greatest dream of all would be to participate in the Olympics Games.. My coach Eugenio Mallia inspired me to focus totally on athletics. He always believed in me. My parents were also helpful. They supported me to the correct decision and ultimately, they believed in me.
My role model in athletics is Jakob Ingebretsen who is only 17 and who won the 1500m and 5000m double in the European Championships together with many Under 20 World titles in the same events.
2) Matthias, you are a LaSallian student and LaSalle has always been on the forefront in producing and nurturing great talents. Lest I miss someone, I refrain to mention any of the past, but you have witnessed over the years that LaSalle does really well in the MAAA and inter school cross countries in various age categories. The situation repeats itself even during World Athletics Day where students from different schools Public, Private and Independent compete against each other in different athletic events. Am sure you are proud of all this since you contributed considerably to up this level with your performances. Your sense of belonging to LaSalle is visible to all but what is your general feeling with LaSalle both as a school and as an athlete.
I have been attending De La Salle College since I was 5 years old. We are very lucky to have if not the best, one of the best facilities in Malta when it comes to sports. The school organises a lot of activities including a cross country within the school, sports day and athletics day. Apart from that we have midday break clubs for those students who show and interest to improve. Our physical education teachers are always on the lookout for potential athletes. The laSallian mission is to invest in transforming interest and love of sports into achievement through hard work and commitment, particularly in the disciplines of track and field. We can all witness that this is being achieved.
3) Matthias, your coach, Eugenio Mallia happens to be a PE teacher at the same school. He is your mentor and am sure you followed his advice to the coma cause otherwise results couldn t be up to such level. Eugenio has coached loads of athletes who made it to the high scene and this year you achieved an enviable double in the 800m and 1500m in the Youth Nationals. This year too, you underwent to the baptism of fire in international races at Fisec and at Brno. How is your relationship with coach Eugenio? How was your feeling before an international race especially at Brno where you represented Malta for the first time? How are your feelings when locally you and Jacob Greengrass are the sole two contenders of your races whereas abroad the level is by far higher so rather than leading the race you are a follower?
I have known my coach, Eugenio Mallia since year 1. He was my Physical Education teacher all throughout Junior School. He encouraged me to join after school athletics in year 4. I have a very good relationship with him. Apart from being my coach he is also my motivator. I am normally very excited before a race but his presence and his continuous encouragement helps me control the excitement and the adrenaline rush.
This year was a very positive year for me both locally, and as you very well said I had the opportunity to participate in the FISEC games in Genk and also qualify with the National Team to participate in Brno, Czech Republic. Both experiences were overwhelming. International competition is at a much higher level and the races are very tactical. Athletes are very well built with an incredible stamina. In Malta, unfortunately, the middle distance field is extremely small with very limited competition thus making it more difficult to improve.
I am lucky to at least have Jacob Greengrass to race with. We are always challenging each other for 1st and 2nd place. We are sort of rivals but in a friendly and competitive way. I had the opportunity to race with Jacob in both international competitions and we used each other as reference points.
4) Matthias, as of lately I noticed something quite strange at Marsa Track but I found it healthy and encouraging. In preparation to Brno, Jacob Greengrass and you trained together when both your club and coach are different. I am always of the idea that training on your own, at times, can trigger quite easily to the comfy zone. Having a good sparring partner can only make things better. Mind and legs are attentive at all times and effort exerted is by far better. Two competitors who embrace a friendship as it should be and opted to improve themselves thanks to each other. It was a great understanding from both coaches. I am curious how it developed such idea. Who was behind such action? Do you feel the difference between training with less competitive athletes and training with Jacob?
Both Jacob and I haven't got athletes in our respective clubs, who are our age, to challenge during training. Jacob's coach, David Cardona and my coach, Eugenio Mallia decided that since we are the two main middle distance runners in our age group we could help each other improve if we had to challenge each other not only on a competition basis but even on a training level. I think that it was healthy for both of us because every run was like a race to beat each other. It helped both of us push further.
5) Matthias, your dream is to become a Doctor and then to specialise as a Surgeon. Doctor is one of the toughest Degree at the University of Malta but so are the 800m and the 1500m. It seems you like challenges and you fear nothing. So far, your training didn t suffer any absentees. How many sessions do you train per week? How are you managing to combine studies with school especially for you where you know that your marks in Science subjects should be on the highest edge?
Training has helped me since I was in junior school manage my time wisely. In the past scholastic year, when I was focusing only on athletics, my grades improved and I was able to manage the stress before the exams in a much better way. I found that the track is a fantastic way to release the tension and stress before and during exams.
I train 3 times a week on the track or road with added sessions of strength exercises from home. Till now I feel that I am managing well even though I have 3 science subjects and having to obtain high marks in my O'levels is a challenge I have to overcome.
6) This scholastic year is a determined one for you. This year means the termination of your secondary level followed by the O Levels. As your career expectations and athletic performances are high, you need not just pass or win but you need to pass with flying colours in both matters. How do you think are you going to cope with this dual career path? For sure you have good time management and am sure you need to apply it better this year. What are you planning for this season in terms of training and competition?
I will try to manage my time well and use it wisely. If I feel that training will have a negative effect on my studies I will have to cut down but this is not my intention at the time being.
This year will be very demanding both in my scholastic work as well as in athletics. I need to obtain high grades in my O Levels to eventually read for Medicine at University. Also, I am planning to start gym this year and I would like to work hard and hopefully do a 2:00 minute 800m which is a huge feat. As you very well said I will be missing out on some competitions this year since these will coincide with my exams however I will be working as hard I can to be in peak form for after my exams are over in the beginning of June. It will surely be more competitive next year as I will have to run with the Open category.
7) Matthias, you are still very young but smart and talented. This is a very short question. Guess the shortest ever from my end but which is of great importance. By now you should know what it takes, what it makes and what it breaks an athlete... Give us your views.
Athletics is not just about running, it is a state of mind.
I am still learning about the takes, the makes and the breaks myself. However, from what I read
it takes drive and sacrifices to improve every day, discipline and commitment by following strict exercises and eating schedule, competitiveness with a desire to compete and win, self-confidence and believing you are a winner. Good time management is very important to juggle between hours of training on top of school and spending some time with friends and family. Athlete's relationship with the coach is very important, the coach is a friend, mentor and provide technical and tactical support. A supportive family is also as important.
The thirst to improve with goals set in mind, the commitment and focus on the sport and determination to never give up, knowing one's strengths and improve them while overcoming the weaknesses are some of the makes.
Goal setting can help improve results however these goals have to be realistic and designed in small increments which can be achieved in the short term. Not reaching the set goals leads to loss of confidence and eventually breaks an athlete.
Matthias, It was an honour for me getting to know you deeper. Athletics is not just a pair of strong legs but a stronger mind. The beauty of the mind can direct us to lofty heights. Mathias only the sky is your limit. Keep up the good work.