A total of Eighteen (18) athletes will represent Bermuda at the XX Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23rd to August 3rd, 2014.
Today www.islandstats.com begins a Spotlight on an athlete that will be vying for Medals at the Games. We begin with Squash player Robert Maycock.
Name: Robert Maycock
Date of Birth: 2 May 1990
Q. What is something many people don’t know about you?
A. I am in the process of climbing the Seven Summits!
Q. How did you first get involved in Squash?
A. I first started playing through Saltus’ afterschool program, though I only really took to the sport when I began playing with my uncle Roger Sherratt. I was definitely influenced by my cousin, Tommy Sherratt, who was the best player on the island at the time.
Q. Did you have a particular Squash idol?
A. When I was growing up, I wanted to play like Jonathan Power – former World #1 who was known for his deft shot-making and showmanship, kind of like tennis legend John McEnroe.
Q. When did you realize that you wanted to compete Internationally?
A. In many sports, you can compete against a height, distance or time, but this is not the case with squash. To improve as a squash player, you need to constantly be playing different players, of varying levels and styles. Although Bermuda has a wonderful junior program that does a tremendous job of nurturing young players, the local talent pool is small. As soon as I could, I looked to test my skills abroad. When I was young, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play for Bermuda in the Caribbean and the US. I haven't looked back since.
Q. What one moment in your sport to date are you most proud of?
A. The first time I played for the Bermuda Men's National Team has to be up there. We played the hosts, India, in the first match of the World Team Championships in 2007. It was a great atmosphere and, to the shock of the national Indian press, we gave them a run for their money!
Q. What are your goals for the rest of 2014?
A. Keep improving, as always.
In September, I'll be heading with a team to Mexico City for a PanAm qualification event. The number one goal for the rest of 2014 is to qualify for the PanAmerican Games.
Q. Can you give an insight into an average week of training for you?
A. The bulk of my training is match play. A lot of what I focus on revolves around strategy and shot-selection, plus I live in New York City and therefore have access to many top players.
I play 3-4 matches a week and supplement this with 2-3 strength/plyometric sessions.
To switch things up, I love to get on my road bike and head up the Palisades. Rides vary from 20-50 miles.
Q. Is this your first Commonwealth Games?
A. Yes. I can't wait for the Opening Ceremonies!
Q. What do you do when you’re not taking part in Squash?
A. I work at Oxeon Partners, an incredible company that invests in and builds the leadership teams of top healthcare technology companies. When I'm not on the court, I'm trying to fix the US healthcare system!
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