David Nebiyu Vioque - Athlete Ambassador
Have you always been into sport?
Yes, I actually moved around a lot when I was growing up and ended up living in 12 different countries. The one constant through all this change was sport and I always tried different sports in new places. I loved how passion for football or climbing for example was the same whether you were in Kuwait or the US. Sport ended up being a big grounding part of my life, especially through all the cultural shocks!
How did you first get into swimming?
Being half Spanish, we would always go back to Mallorca in the summers and I was fortunate to live by the beach. I found it very easy to practice open sea swimming since I was young and ended up really loving being in the water. Eventually I decided to make it pursuit and joined swim teams everywhere we travelled to as a family. I found my times improving a lot every year and in Kenya, I made the Commonwealth qualifying times for freestyle.
If you are interested in getting into Swimming, Sundried's kit is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned athletes. We have both men's and women's options available.
What has been your favourite race to date and why?
The qualifying finals for 50m Freestyle at the Aga Khan Invitationals in Nairobi. I was recovering from a sprained knee and managed to make the qualifying time for my favourite stroke without using my left leg. I don't expect to be able to repeat that but I think the breathing exercises and pressure in the moment pushed me through.
What is your proudest achievement?
Fully returning to sport after having undergone 6 knee surgeries (3 ACL reconstructions on both knees). In fact, I am now close to beating my pre-surgery times (running, swimming and climbing) through dedicated practice and the help of a great team of physios.
Have you ever had any racing disasters?
Yes, hit my hand against a pool lane divider during a 100m backstroke race at a swim meet and didn't realize I was bleeding heavily until the very end!
How do you overcome setbacks?
Meditation has been key for me. I create space between myself and the setback and try to learn from it.
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
Try again.
What are your goals?
Pushing myself to explore my limits on multiple fronts. I'd love to test myself on a triathlon and potentially see whether my swim times could qualify for some of the more challenging open water races out there (El Cruce in Mexico would be a dream!)
Who inspires you?
Anyone who has challenged adversity to pursue their dreams. By virtue of moving around so much, I've grown to love meeting new people and I feel like I'm constantly inspired on a day to day basis.
Why work with Sundried?
When I got back into running after my 6th surgery I was gifted a Sundried running shirt by my friend. The quality was incredible and I've been using the same shirt for about 3 years now. It felt great to run in and that got me to get their swim trunks, which are also amazing. I associate Sundried with my return to sport so I'm definitely partial to the brand.
To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.