Athletics: Feature on Ned Azemia |02 June 2020
IN HIS STRIDE … Azemia clearing a hurdle during a race
‘I’m aiming high for the Olympics,’ Azemia
Young and promising athlete Ned Azemia is aiming high for the Summer Olympics which have been rescheduled to be held next year in Tokyo, Japan.
Azemia is back in the country since mid-March after having had to abandon his base in the United States of America where he was attending university in Texas and later at the University of Miami due the COVID-19 pandemic which brought the whole world of sports to a standstill as he explained to Sports NATION.
The US adventure
“I was spotted by top coaches when I participated in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil and this brought many scholarship offers which I had to consider and I finally moved to the University of Texas in 2018 where I was studying civil engineering and at the same time following training which was quite demanding especially as I was competing every week,” reflected Azemia who specialises in 400-metre hurdles.
He added that the US adventure has been a turning point in his career ensuring his progress.
However, with the pressure of studies, Azemia decided to defer his studies in civil engineering in 2019 and opted to change his studies which meant moving to the University of Miami where he is now majoring in media management and is expected to graduate for his degree next year as he hopes he will be able to return to the US in September to continue his next semester, after it was halted due to the pandemic. He has admitted that the break has enabled him to combine his training as it is not as stressful.
Targeting the Olympics
“I would like to take a year off from my studies to focus entirely on preparation for the Olympics where I want to meet the qualifying standard which is a time of 49.50 seconds which I am confident I can achieve and my dream is to participate in the summer games and get past the opening rounds of the 400-metre hurdles race,” explained Azemia.
Nevertheless, Azemia said that his preparation was hampered in 2019 due to injury which limited his participation in many competitions and was therefore looking forward for this season but all his plans have been disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic which has made him having to wait to get back on track this year.
“When I competed in the Olympics in 2016, I was still a kid at the age of 18 and was inhibited with all the world class athletes I had to rub shoulders with at the Games, but now I am more prepared and possess a stronger drive and maturity to face any athlete in my favourite race as I have come a long way to reach this stage and I hope I can return to the high level I had managed to achieve in 2018,” stated Azemia who is now 22 years old and at the prime of his career.
Re-prioritising his target
As the season has been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic and cancellation of all competitions, Azemia says that he has to relook at his schedule for the remainder of the season where he is still optimistic of a good year.
“I was targeting the Olympics and the African Championships this year but now I have to modify my plans but nevertheless I am gearing myself for a good season where I want to make up for last year where I could not compete due to injury,” Azemia who trains under the guidance of coach Amy Deen in Miami, told Sports NATION.
Late starter
It is to note that Azemia never dreamt of being an athlete as he was more into a variety of sports such as volleyball, judo and others but then was influenced by one of his mentors.
“I was not focused on one sports but when I reached Secondary Four, my mum encouraged me to take up athletics which I have never regretted. I have achieved good result in the Inter-School National Athletics Championships and established new national marks,” revealed Azemia, who was trained by former athlete Linda Jeanne before he joined university in the USA.
Highlight of career
Azemia is adamant though that he is yet to reach the peak of his career but thinks he has enjoyed some remarkable success which has motivated him to plod on as he aims for greater heights.
“My best performance so far is when I set the new national record in Texas in 2018 in the National Championships where I was second overall with a time of 49.84 seconds. My gold medal triumph at the 10th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Mauritius in 2019 was also very satisfying though it was not my best time. I also won a bronze in the 4x 100 metres relay at the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2017 along with Dylan Sicobo, Leeroy Henriette and Sharry Dodin in a Seychelles record time of 40.31 seconds, but I know there is more to come,” stressed Azemia.
Family support
The Port Glaud resident confessed to Sports NATION on the huge backing he receives from his family and is ever so grateful for the unequivocal support as he aims to make a name for himself in the coming years.
“My dream is to qualify for the Olympics next year and make it to the semis and I also would like to turn professional and compete in the Diamond League in the near future and for this, I would like to thank my family and my girlfriend for all their encouragement throughout my career,” Azemia, who is currently on attachment at the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), related to Sports NATION in conclusion.
R. J-L.
