From managing expectations, to pre-match superstitions and hydration tips, find out how Olympic fencer Amita Berthier does it all
Having qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the tender age of 20, Amita Berthier told SportPlus.sg she has learnt plenty from her debut Olympics and is not in Paris just to make up the numbers.
We sat down with her behind-the-scenes at a recent shoot for 100PLUS to find out what some of the biggest challenges to her fencing career has been, how she has learnt from her first Olympic Games, and the secrets to her hydration regime.
What has been the biggest challenge while training for the Olympics?
Amita: I think being able to be reasonable with my results even when I'm not like satisfied with them so like you know being kind to myself when I'm not performing the way that I want to perform, and understanding that this is a journey - a long process and I just have to be patient and trust that everything's going to turn out the way that I want it to because I'm putting in the work.
What was your key takeaway from the last Olympics?
Amita: I think in general it's just a very humbling experience to already make it to the Olympics was difficult, but then being there was like a whole different ball game - being with the best of the best.
Like everybody that qualified obviously has really good potential so I think what I took away was that you know I'm at a certain level but not the level that I want to be or that I know I can be at.
So the past couple of years I have just been working on myself, fine-tuning my skills. I know that I can be on the top of the world and I think that's what I've been focusing on the past couple of months in years.
Do you have any pre-match superstitions?
Amita: I have this one song that I always listen to before my matches, and if I forget to listen to it for some reason like I lose. It's called "Money Longer" by Lil Uzi Vert.
So it's probably like my pre-fight song - I don't know it's just been a thing for the past few years.
What's the most fulfilling moment you've had at a major competition?
Amita: Getting the Asian Games bronze medal with my team in 2018 in Jakarta, I think that was really memorable because we had never done it before. But I think also just qualifying for the last cycle was very memorable for me because it was during Covid then there were a lot of obstacles in my past.
So I think being able to qualify for Olympics was probably the biggest obstacle for me and in the Games I just went there, went to have fun - but this time around I don't want to go in as a participant, I want to go in as a contender.
So I took away a lot of experience from that but I've changed my mindset completely.
How has 100PLUS Active helped fuel your training sessions?
Amita: In a sport like fencing we sweat a lot and in most sports in general, but with all these layers I sweat very easily and being in a country as humid and hot as Singapore, 100PLUS definitely helps me to keep being rehydrated and refreshed and something that is very thirst quenching, and that's essential in my training.
I find that it's helped a lot you know, recover my muscles faster or just recover the electrolytes lost so yeah, a big fan of 100PLUS.
How convenient has the 100PLUS Active Isotonic Powder been for your overseas training?
Amita: Definitely, I think the sachets are really crucial and being able to pack it for overseas trips - I just brought it for my last overseas competition in Hong Kong.
Found it very helpful, very useful. Super easy to just put it in my water bottle and very beneficial.
What is your hydration regime like while training for a Major Competition?
Amita: Usually I typically hydrate during my training session, so I have like a gym session in the morning, and then also a lesson with my coach - individual working lesson with my coach in the morning.
And then I have a lunch break and then in the afternoon I have a fencing session, so throughout all these sessions I'm constantly losing sweat so I really hydrate the most during my training sessions.
What is your favourite part about 100PLUS Active?
Amita: I like that it's not carbonated but also thirst quenching so there are a lot of non-carbonated drinks that
aren't thirst quenching and don't fulfil my needs when I'm in a training session.
So 100PLUS Active, I enjoy it everytime I drink it - I feel like I'm replenished after I have the 100PLUS Active, so it works for me and I have no complaints.