SPECIAL SECTION: HEALTH & FITNESS
Midfielder Keanu Baccus on getting ahead of the pack
Gutsy midfielder Keanu Baccus debuted for the Socceroos just two years ago, but he already has a swag of memories to look back on.“ Winning games in the World Cup was surreal,” he says.“ Playing the likes of Argentina, you know, with [ Lionel ] Messi – marking him was a dream come true.”
The 25-year-old broke onto the professional scene in the A-League with the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2016 and represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympics before getting his start with the Socceroos. He signed with Scottish club St Mirren in 2022.
His success has come with fierce attention to his health and fitness.“ I pride myself on doing all the right things required for football,” he says.“ As well as my dream and my passion, it’ s also my job, so I respect it highly.”
Food in particular is“ very important”.“ I try to keep a clean diet and a little protein, carbs when needed as well, and also obviously stay hydrated,” he says.
It hasn’ t always been the case, he admits.“ I have a little brother and I always tell him to try to get a little bit of a head start with [ playing football ] because I didn’ t when I was at his age – he’ s about 15 now,” Baccus says.“ I had a lot of fun with my friends, which was fine. A lot of fun football-wise, but then a lot of fun eating-wise as well. And I feel like it did set me back a little bit.”
Fast food and chocolate were among the things Baccus found he had to cut back on to achieve his potential and he passes that advice on.“ It’ s a bit of a weakness at times, but you’ ve just got to pick and choose the right times to do it,” he says.“ You’ ve got to remember your goals at the end of the day, and consider if something is going to help or set you back.”
Baccus is highly fitness-focussed as well.“ The first few years of my professional career, I used to think the game and then recovery was the biggest thing,” he says.“ And it is massive of course but, to recover, you’ ve also got to do other things actively. You can start off small if it’ s body weight and really build a good foundation for yourself.” >
22 | JAN / FEB 2024 COSTCO CONNECTION