Celebrity Health – Jeanette Kwakye
Liz Parry talks to former elite athlete turned broadcaster Jeanette Kwakye about her new role presenting the BBC’s Olympic Games coverage
Images © BBC/Sam Riley
Jeanette Kwakye is a former Team GB sprinter who competed at two World Championships (2007 and 2011) and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After being hampered with injury in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics, Jeanette retrained as a journalist and has since built a successful career in TV and radio broadcasting.
Q By the time this issue has been published, you will be on our TV screens presenting the Olympic Games coverage for the BBC. Are you excited about that?
Jeanette: Oh absolutely! I think there’s something really special about the Olympics as every four years some of the best athletes, coaches and officials in the world come together and they put on this amazing show. I was very privileged to be able to compete in the Olympic Games. It’s such an honour and a huge responsibility.
Q Although you’ve retired from athletics do you still train regularly?
Jeanette: We have a home gym, which we built during lockdown. It was a massive investment for us but it’s a huge benefit not just physically but mentally. My husband and I have two kids aged eight and five so life can get pretty hectic! Sometimes you just need an outlet. I generally train for a minimum of four days a week, or five to six days a week if I can squeeze it in. At the moment I’m doing quite a lot of weights, but also some cardio. I’ll do sessions on the treadmill and the spin bike.
Q Do your children enjoy exercise? Any chance that they might follow in your footsteps?
Jeanette: Oh I don’t know about that! I don’t want to put any pressure on them. My daughter, who is five, was very excited to be part of sports day. She’s incredibly competitive and I see a lot of me in her. My son is really talented, but not as competitive. As a family we’re all very active. We’re often in the garden kicking a ball around, playing basketball and tennis. It’s good to keep them active so that they are knackered by the time they go to bed!
Q As a family, do you enjoy a healthy diet?
Jeanette: We work really hard to make sure that the kids understand the value of nutrition. My son and daughter often help me in the kitchen, under supervision. Cooking from scratch is important to us. Again, that’s something I took from being an athlete, because as athletes we stay well away from processed food. A lot of my diet is very green, so I eat a lot of spinach, broccoli and beans. I eat a lot of protein as well. Lately I’ve cut out white rice, which I love and which is the one thing that my mum and my aunties always cooked. But now I eat more whole grains and brown rice.
Q You’ve gone from being a professional athlete to a journalist and broadcaster. What’s it like being on the other side of the camera and the microphone?
Jeanette: As a broadcaster, I look forward to telling people’s stories. It might sound corny but I get really excited about seeing people’s journeys. Whether it’s win or lose, they’ve been on a journey to get there and I’m well aware of what’s involved. I know, as an athlete, what this moment means for them and I end up taking on everyone else’s nervous energy. I often come away from work absolutely exhausted but at the same time massively inspired.
Follow Jeanette on Instagram: @jeanettekwakye
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