and you have spoken to them
and come to an agreement it’s
fully understandable. Finding
ways to measure the work and
setting goals and ways to meet
them is most important.”
Having been at LAX’s London
Wall for three years, Silvino is
now juggling being a full-time
sports science student at the
University of East London (UEL)
with 25 hours a week of
personal training and helping
out as a member of staff at FFP.
After helping get his personal
training, boxing and first aid
qualifications, FFP were again on
hand to help Silvino get into
university, contacting UEL on his
behalf. His passion for training
athletes prompted his need for
further qualifications: “A personal
training qualification isn’t enough
for me. My main goal is to do
sports biomechanics. I want to
work in elite sports.”
Imagining where he could be
now if he had had these
opportunities sooner, I ask him
why he thinks sport has
engaged him in a way that
education couldn’t.
“There’s a competitive side to
sport that education just doesn’t
have. You’re always taking on a
different opponent. The more
you do it, the better you
physically and mentally feel.
Study just doesn’t do it in the
same addictive way.”
How do you study full time,
volunteer and have a bunch of
gym clients to work with every
day? Silvino spells it out:
Wake up at 5am. Make breakfast, pack it. Do a quick
meditation then go for a 3–5 mile run. Cycle to work. Shower.
Work with 2-3 clients at LAX’s London Wall then make way to
university for 9–10am.
Straight from there (depending on the day) until 5pm (maybe a
bit earlier), train for two hours with my boxing coach.
Then back to work with clients from 5.30pm to 8.30 or 9.30pm
(except on Weds/Fridays’ when I’m running boxing sessions
from 7–9pm).
Back home in time for a couple of press-ups before bed. Then
do it all again!
@REPsUK
FM 17