Olympic hopeful, Andrew Fowler has set his sights on qualifying for the prestigious event from an eight-month training camp at the Azura Aquatics Center, Florida.
At the start of the month the 23-year-old was set to begin training but due to hurricane Dorian’s threat, it was pushed back into this week where he will be working out for five days every week until the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Fowler, who represented Guyana at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, explained that “it is very hard training but I’m tough and can make it.”
He added that he intends to better his personal best by the end of the year and his vision of an Olympic medal keeps him motivated.
The young man reflected on the difficult times he endured prior to this move, claiming he was abused and neglected in Ohio where he was previously enlisted.
“I was training in Ohio for four months but I had to leave because the coaches were racists and it was a dangerous environment for me. I was verbally abused in public and left in a corner to train by myself and no assistance was given when injured,” he stated.
Nevertheless, Fowler reckoned that it is that type of animosity that pushes him to strive towards his dream.
Currently, no work is being done in the pool but when he gets the chance, he has already earmarked his underwater kicking, sprinting technique and endurance as key elements to improve.
Fowler has shown constant progression, most recently clocking his personal best in the 100m freestyle at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
