Nice to Meat - Sam Curry (Pentathlon GB Athlete)

Sam Curry is a 23 year old Modern Pentathlon GB athlete. Originally from Salfords (near Reigate) in Surrey, he combines his grueling training regime with studying for a Masters Degree in Conflict, Security and Development at King’s College London. He has started 2017 in excellent form having secured his best-ever World Cup finish in Los Angeles before claiming bronze at the British Modern Tetrathlon Championships. Sam took time out of his training regime to ‘meat us’...

What events does the Pentathlon involve?

Pentathlon (or modern pentathlon as most people will know it from the Olympics) consists of five sports: swimming, fencing, horse riding, running and shooting, although the running and shooting is combined into one event for competitions.

It’s not an obvious choice of sport to pursue, how did you get into it?

I was very lucky that my PE teacher at school was Kate Allenby who won a Bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics. She introduced us to Biathlon (swimming and running) originally as a 12 year old, and I just became hooked on the variation and competitive nature of excelling in various disciplines.

What does a typical training day look like for you?

As the sport is so varied, my training is varied accordingly, so there is no typical day as such. I’ll usually swim or run first thing in the morning, and fit in another training session in the gym late morning, before an evening fencing session after I’ve been at the books on the afternoon.

Horse riding and shooting training tends to wait until the weekend, but there really is no two days the same.

What do you eat on a typical training day?

I usually start the day with a quick cereal bar, before my first training session. I’ll have breakfast after the first session, which is something like granola and yoghurt. For lunch I normally have something prepared in a tupperware that I eat in the library, chicken and rice or something like that. A favourite for dinner is a quick pasta carbonara or something else, that is quick and easy. I’m usually not done training until after 8pm, so complex cooking during the week isn’t on the menu.

What do you typically eat on a non-training/cheat day?

Cheat days aren’t really a thing, as even on a rest day I am careful what I eat. A burrito is possibly as far as I let myself go.

What meal do you eat most often?

Carbonara, because it’s quick, easy, tasty and filling.

What is your favourite meal?

Vietnamese Pad Thai.

Is what you eat essential to your training and recovery?

It is essential to everything I do, not just training and recovery. I feel very fortunate to have had access to nutritionists when I was young at Team Bath as they drilled it into me that I had to be vigilant with nutrition. It keeps me positive, and I know getting the right vitamins and protein is critical for me.

How do you stay motivated?

I enjoy the variation I have in my life both academically and through sport. The two balance each other and provide a distraction and relief from the other. I’m a very competitive person, which helps drive me on across the disciplines I have chosen.

How do you like to relax?

I have a very understanding girlfriend and social circle of friends, who understand I am very driven in my goals. When I do get down time I like a cultural distraction at a museum or taking in a play, and thankfully being based in London there is always something new to see.

What are the big goals you are aiming for?

I’ve got some academic deadlines on the horizon, and securing my MA is a key goal academically. Competition wise, the World Cup Circuit, European and World Championships, are close to hand, but

competing at the 2020 Olympics is the ultimate dream.