Shayna Jack is an Australian swimmer who has a passion for fitness and is determined to get the most out of herself as an athlete and perform to the best of her ability in the pool.
After having some forced time out of the pool, Shayna decided to study her Certificate III in Fitness with AFA to further her knowledge and upskill herself in a field she loves.
Shayna has an incredible story and we absolutely loved assisting her to complete her fitness studies – we can’t wait to see what she does next! Check out our full chat with her:
Image by Bec Wyant
- How did you get into the sport of swimming and what age were you?
I started swimming from the age of 18 months old, as my parents thought it was important for myself and my siblings to learn how to be safe in a water environment. From this point on, we continued to thrive and enjoyed every moment in the water.
- What does your training schedule look like?
In a week;
- 8 swim sessions
- 3 gym sessions
- 2 bike sessions
- 1 pilates session
I would roughly say its about 40km in the pool per week and over 32 hours spent at the pool each week.
- What has been your career highlight to date?
My career highlight in the pool would have to be the unforgettable moment at the 2018 Commonwealth Games where myself and my team won gold in the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay and broke the world record. Out of the pool, my highlight would have to be winning my case and having the opportunity to return to the pool and work towards representing my country once again.
Image by Wade Brennan
- What are your goals for the rest of 2022?
I am currently in training for the 2022 World and Commonwealth Game trials held in Adelaide in May. This will then hopefully lead to me competing for my country once again at both the World Championships in Budapest and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gained from your coaches?
Best piece of advice I have been given is to ensure I give everyday in and out of the pool, 100% of the energy I have on that day. So even on days where I don’t feel amazing, as long as I’m putting in 100% of my efforts, I have won the day.
- Do you have any pre-race superstitions?
I am someone that likes to ensure nothing can affect or impact the way I race so I definitely don’t have a step by step superstition that I have to do, but before I get up on the blocks I use the ‘Vagus Nerve Rest’ method, which is 3 strong hits to the center of your sternum to ensure I don’t panic or stress before I dive in.
Image by Barbara Vali
7. What made you study your Certificate III in Fitness?
I have always had an interest in fitness and I wanted to better my skills not only for myself as an athlete but also as a mentor and role model for young boys and girls. I want to be able to give accurate, correct information to any young athletes or parents who may ask me for further information about body development and fitness structures.
- Why did you choose to study with AFA & how did you find the course material?
I was recommended by a friend as she mentioned the flexibility of the program would enable me to get my certificate done prior to returning to the pool full time. I found the material to be useful and well-structured to ensure I could self-teach at home.
Image by Hannah Turnbull
- How have your studies helped make you a better athlete?
It helped me understand my body better and understand how to listen to what it needs/what it may be lacking in order to improve on my performances. I have ensured to be more involved when it comes to my programing for both gym and swimming allowing me to ask more questions and ensure I understand the concepts behind what I am aiming to achieve with each exercise/movement
- If you could give someone considering a career in fitness some advice, what would it be?
Do it, whether the certificate comes in handy now or in the future, you won’t only just use it for yourself, your children but you can use it for a career path whenever you want. For me it is a possible career path but also just my passion in learning more and being the best possible athlete and person I can be.
