Q & A with Ghana’s National Record Holder Jason Arthur

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Photo Courtesy: Jason Arthur

By Alexa Kutch, Swimming World College Intern. 

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Photo Courtesy: Drexel Athletics

Drexel University’s breakout swimmer Jason Arthur proved to be a natural in the water as early as three years old. Eighteen years later, Arthur will be representing Ghana this summer at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Certainly, Ghana’s 100 backstroke national record holder will look to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games at this meet. You will see him compete in the backstroke events when you tune in.

Swimming World had the opportunity to sit down with Arthur to learn more about how he will prepare for such an epic meet.

Swimming World: Thank you for meeting with us. We understand that you are no stranger to international competitions. To start, what is it like to participate in meets such as Romanian International Swimming Championships and Commonwealth Games in Australia?

Arthur: Thank you for interviewing me! At first, I will admit I was anxious and intimidated, because I did not know what to expect. With Commonwealth Games, I was able to get the full athlete experience. I was in a village with around-the-clock security, dining halls, gaming centers, etc. It was pretty cool, because I got to see how professionals acted and prepared when they were not swimming. Being able to observe the differences between what I do in college swimming and what professional athletes do. The level of dedication and commitment the athletes showed in terms of taking care of their bodies and executing races was something I had never done before to that extent. Nevertheless, it helped me refocus my priorities as a competitive swimmer.

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Photo Courtesy: Jason Arthur

SW: What motivates you to participate in these international competitions?

Arthur: The thought that I can possibly earn a spot at the 2020 Olympic Games and be able to get the Olympic rings tattoo has been a huge motivating factor. More technically, I have to go to this meet in order to get an invitation to Tokyo. As I get closer to the Olympics, my personal motivation will surely grow. Currently, I am working a full time corporate job with Drexel’s Co-op program, which can sometimes stunt motivation. Balancing that with a full-on training routine can be challenging. However, it’s all about finding that leftover time and energy to focus on my short- and long-term goals and perform to the best of my abilities at these meets.

SW: How will you prepare mentally for this upcoming meet?

Arthur: As of right now, I’m trying not to think about it too much. I understand that this meet will be a huge learning opportunity for me as a swimmer. It seems crazy to me that with only a year of collegiate swimming left, I will be able to experience meets like this. I have definitely taken a step back and tried to learn about where I am as a swimmer and where I want to be when I finally retire. I go into this meet knowing that it will further my insight as an athlete. Hopefully, this will carry into my final swim season as a Dragon.

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Photo Courtesy: Jason Arthur

SW: What does it feel like going into the meet as one of Ghana’s national record holders?

Arthur: Surprisingly, it doesn’t feel much different. In saying that, this feeling changes when I am actually in Ghana. I went there last year in June and did a couple of TV interviews, which was really cool. I take pride in how amazing of an accomplishment it is. Both swimming and non-swimming communities acknowledge how big of a deal it is. While the attention I get from it is awesome, I keep telling myself to stay humble and continue to achieve new goals. As of now, it hasn’t hit me yet that I have truly earned it. Nevertheless, it feels good to do something that makes my family proud.

SW: With high hopes to qualify for Tokyo, how are you going to prepare for the biggest meet of your career?

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Photo Courtesy: Jason Arthur

Arthur: It’s bittersweet to think that Tokyo will be my last meet ever before I hang up the cap and goggles. Therefore, the amount and intensity of training both in and out of the water will have to increase way more than what I am currently doing. When I get to the actual day of my race, all I know is that I want to swim well and represent Ghana the best I can. I want my swimming career to end on a high note. What better way to do that than to make an appearance at Worlds this summer and the Olympic Games! This is something that just hasn’t sunk in yet: something that feels so good yet so surreal.

SW: Lastly, how will you use your swim status to positively impact both your swimming community as well as the country of Ghana?

Arthur: A couple of my friends and I have talked about starting a program in our high school. It revolves around talking to the school’s male minorities and helping them unleash their fullest potential. Essentially, we want to give back to these students through our personal experiences. After all, we live in a world where they are not as favored, especially in swimming. In terms of coaching, I would prefer to coach college athletes. As for Ghana, whenever I am there, I try to help out at the local pools to give people lessons. I definitely plan on visiting in spurts to use my status as a way to promote water safety and education to the citizens of Ghana.

-All interviews are conducted by the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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