Paralympic swimmer Shanntol Ince takes Robert Dumas through the paces of training in preparation for the Paralympic Games.
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00:00 Today I'm taking on Chantellex and if she thinks I'm going to take it easy on her because she's at a disadvantage
00:07 Disadvantage? Ha!
00:10 In every sport there's a line
00:16 All athletes put themselves on the line for club and country
00:23 The world's strongest women's team
00:27 The world's strongest men's team
00:32 The world's strongest men's team
00:37 The world's strongest women's team
00:42 The world's strongest men's team
00:48 The world's strongest men's team
00:54 I'm waking up to ash and dust
01:00 Waking up to ash and dust
01:06 Waking up to ash and dust
01:13 I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
01:17 And I'm craving in the kitchen
01:19 Well hello there Chantelle
01:20 Oh hi Robbo
01:21 Hi, thank you for having me
01:23 I must tell you that this, of all the training sessions I've done, I'm really looking forward to this one because it's actually in a pool
01:30 Oh well that sounds great, well go get dressed and let's go
01:34 For sure
01:35 Ok Rob, so here we go right
01:45 We're going to start over the 500, smooth, easy, make sure you stretch out, make sure you engage that core on the rotation
01:53 Breathe in every 3, because well you know it kind of just starts you know, so we won't go like breathe every 5 or 7 just yet right
02:00 So let's just start with 500 easy and we'll move out from there ok?
02:04 Ready, go!
02:07 [Music]
02:18 Ok so, now I really need you to fix your stroke right, because yes yes, believe it or not, it wasn't all that right
02:29 So what I will need you to do is, when you push off the wall, a little more tight streamline, right, tighten that streamline
02:37 So I want you to do 100 for me again and then I'll get in the pool with you and we'll start some sprinting from then right
02:44 Alright, but you need to catch your breath first
02:47 No, I just need to make sure I keep on the line
02:50 On the line, yeah
02:51 [Music]
03:02 Alright, so Kiarra but here we go, you're going to be swimming a 25 of this 50 meters right
03:09 But I want you to do it as fast as you can to the 15 and just swim easy until the 25
03:14 Be careful because that fast is fast
03:16 Yeah that fast is fast because I'm in charge here, you're on my turf and we're going to do this well ok?
03:22 Alright, so technique wise, we're going to push off and make sure you have your streamline, do your streamline, hands behind, your ears, make sure your ears are covered
03:34 Do about 4 fly kicks, right, do you know what is butterfly kicks?
03:39 Yes, butterfly kicks
03:40 Ok, do 4 butterfly kicks and then get that stroke going, when you're pulling, pull and make sure you have high elbows, especially with the recovery and then enter and rotate, right?
03:53 Yeah, and make sure and stay on the line, ok?
03:57 I like on the line, I see what you did there, I see what you did there
04:01 Alright, let's go
04:02 [Music]
04:27 Yeah
04:28 [Music]
04:33 Wowee
04:34 Is that it coach?
04:37 Yeah, that's it for now
04:39 Oh my
04:41 And then, I still have the warm down to do
04:45 Yeah
04:46 [Music]
04:52 Please tell me we're finished
04:54 Oh, you had us to fix that stroke on that last one, what was that Robert?
04:58 I don't know how you do what you do
05:00 Yeah, well it's a lot of hard work and sacrifice and dedication on a day to day basis but we didn't really do anything much there you know
05:07 My coach normally takes me through paddle sets, so hand paddles, we use the hand paddles for me to get more power through my shoulders
05:16 We would do pulls to help with my balance and to really get that rhythm going along with the paddles as well
05:25 We would work on sitting, coming off the wall different times
05:33 Although we have the long set, we are more focused on fast turns, fast break outs like that in order to get accustomed to the race environment and do it as best as I can
05:46 What I do is I would find a song in my head, one of my favourite songs
05:51 I listen to Jamie Grace a lot
05:53 It's a song where it says, well, my purpose and my life is in the hands of God
06:00 So I have to continue giving my all, so I would listen to that
06:04 Maybe Hall of Fame might come up, driving through and really pushing and seeing where I want to be helps me in that last hundred
06:15 To just push through the pain and well I could just lie on the deck afterwards
06:22 My coach would probably scrape me off the side but just doing as best as I can
06:29 Before you shout at me again and tell me get going in the beautiful personality that you are
06:36 I'm going to think of another song and continue training
06:39 Alright, well off you go Robert
06:42 [Music]
07:10 We are Clarkson Bay Open Bible, this is the church that we go to
07:16 Chantelle was like three months when we started to come to church
07:21 We were Anglican before but because of how Chantelle was born, that really brought us to the Lord
07:28 These are Chantelle's two sisters, they are twins
07:32 Shalom in the pink, Sarah in the purple
07:36 When I had Chantelle and had her at San Fernando General Hospital
07:42 I was frightened because I didn't know well what or what not that my first baby
07:48 And I didn't know well how she was going to make it out here because I know out here is very cruel
07:55 It's a cruel world
07:57 And then we end up meeting this lady, Carol Lovell and she invited us to church
08:03 Chantelle used to always sing small, when she was maybe about three years
08:09 She started to sing "There is a Candle"
08:12 When Chantelle sings that song, people really cry because the words and everything they say really minister
08:21 Because in every soul, you understand, so that really minister to people
08:26 When Chantelle come back and say well, she will say well, children trouble her or call her about her short foot
08:37 I say Chantelle, God is in control and God love you and this is how God make you
08:46 So don't take them on once you love the Lord, you think just forget about them, just block them out
08:53 Chantelle always put Jesus first
08:56 I'm very proud of Chantelle
08:58 Chantelle has really turned into a really excellent young woman
09:05 And when she go out and she do her best, no pressure on her
09:12 You understand because I mean, we are in a wrong way about how the people bash the other athlete
09:19 And they don't know the struggles and the hard training the other athlete put into it
09:25 They feel it's just so, it's not just so because if you tell them go and run or go and swim or it's not just so
09:32 So just making the theme to say well go out there and represent the country, represent Jesus
09:39 I'm very proud of her
09:41 We love you Chantelle, we are proud of you
09:45 [Music]
09:55 What had happened is we wasn't financially stable, well even now
10:02 But I have to say that at that point in time Chantelle wanted her first calliper
10:08 We really wanted to walk, you know, looking at her maybe at around 8 months old
10:12 So you see her creeping around, holding on, trying to stand
10:15 We were told that she needs something in order to help her walk
10:19 So they gave us this estimate from the orthopedic home
10:24 We came, we went about looking, trying to, you know, see well, we could get this money
10:30 But I'm not the type maybe, kind of over, you know, too much of pride, you know, set in the way
10:37 So this woman was working next door by my brother, he was just about building his house, her name was Carol Lavelle
10:43 And she said, "Here, I'll go in on"
10:46 You know, well she spoke to my wife, my wife put the guy there across to me and said, "Here, I'll go in on, I'm not begging anybody"
10:52 But she said, "Look, leave it in her hands, they will take care of that"
10:56 This woman took money of her own, she had a barbecue
11:03 And then after receiving all of that, with all the people that she got involved with, I didn't know these people
11:09 She actually said, "Here, look, this is the money for Chantal, so you get the money along with just a little more"
11:16 To myself, I said, "Wait, these people still exist?"
11:19 When Chantal first got the calliper, we put it on her, when she got home
11:26 She actually stand up, hold on to the bed, because we had a double-decker bed in the room
11:31 She actually stand up and looked at us, and made like two steps
11:35 Actually, swimming wasn't really her first love
11:39 We first took her dancing, so she started to dance
11:43 And we had to make a choice, with her swimming or dancing
11:49 We have been told by people that it would be kind of hard to teach her to swim because she wouldn't have the balance
11:54 She only has one leg, and this and that
11:57 Mr. Neil Daniels told us, he said, "Bring her, I will teach her fish to swim"
12:02 He started, maybe same Saturday, she started to do the doggy paddle
12:07 And realized that, hey, she has some potential here
12:11 There was this one gentleman, which was Mr. Ralph Haywood
12:15 Everybody knows him as Linky
12:17 That was a guy who actually left his home, rainstorm, sleeping on the highway
12:21 Finding different places for her where she could swim
12:25 I tell her, based on my life, well, Chantal is only half of it
12:29 But thank God for sending Chantal, because she makes me a better person
12:34 And in terms of traveling back and forth, there's no problem for me
12:37 Where Chantal is at, I hope that God takes her to the next level
12:41 That she's able to inspire others
12:43 And life is not just about making the money and being rich and all of that
12:48 But you have to be caring
12:50 You know, the humility part, I believe, well, Chantal teach me a lot with that
12:55 And not only me, she teach a lot of people
12:57 Whether or not they have some people, you know, nothing is not always 100%
13:01 We thank God for what we have and we use it
13:05 [Music]
13:09 [Music]
13:13 [Music]
13:41 [Music]
13:44 My experience in the pool with you was really harsh
13:54 I think I'm still aching a bit from a lot of that training
13:57 You're a good coach, but a tough coach at that
14:00 Take me through that journey, you know, every morning
14:03 You know, the dedication that you give towards your training
14:06 Okay, so this year, my both parents, they decided, well, you know
14:14 They always work hand in hand
14:16 My dad, he would do the morning sessions
14:19 And my mom, she would take over on the afternoon sessions
14:21 So during the school, to him, I especially like that
14:24 My dad, he would drop over there and myself, which is my brother after me
14:29 And he also swims
14:31 He would drop both of us to training for 5 o'clock at Flying Fish in St. James
14:37 And from then, I would then go to RBC
14:40 In St. Clair
14:41 In St. Clair
14:42 And my dad, he would drop my brother to school in Coover
14:46 Whilst my mom is at home preparing my twin sister, Sholom and Serai
14:51 And also Ezekiel, you know, my other brother
14:54 To drop them to San Fernando
14:57 And then she has to then prepare to go to work
15:00 So that's kind of Monday, Wednesday, Friday
15:03 But also on the Monday, Wednesday, Friday, when I go to RBC and I work all day
15:08 I also go back to train from 3 until 5 o'clock in the afternoon
15:12 Well, then my mom, she would come and she would take over the afternoon session
15:17 Whereby she would pick me up, well, pick up over there in Coover
15:20 And then pick me up at RBC
15:22 Then I would, we would go training
15:25 And my dad, he would, you know, then pick up Sholom, Serai and Ezekiel from San Fernando
15:30 And then, you know, they would train like that
15:33 And then Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's a little bit hectic as well
15:38 Where my mom, she would drive up
15:43 And she would drop me early to the pool in Marlins there
15:48 And when she would do that, I would sleep in the car
15:52 And then I would travel back to Claxton Bay and then meet my dad
15:55 And, you know, they would get everybody else ready for school
15:59 And, you know, then go to work like that
16:02 And, you know, when I wake up around 7, I would have breakfast
16:06 Prepare mentally, train for 9, from 9 to 11
16:10 And when that's finished, I would drive down to Claxton Bay to then meet, you know, my mom
16:15 And then she would come again and, you know, bring us back for the afternoon session
16:21 Where I would go strength and conditioning training with Colin Seabright at the fitness center in Dago Martin
16:27 And over there, well, he would also come with me depending on the day
16:31 And train strength and conditioning also in addition to, you know, training in the pool at Flying Fish
16:37 So, you know, and we don't really get down, get back home until after 8
16:43 Because that session sometimes is around like 5 until 7 like that
16:48 And we have to kind of make sure we have everything, go to the grocery in between
16:51 You know, while my dad is just holding down the fort at home
16:54 So, you know, it's really a family unit and I'm really thankful to them for all the sacrifice they know
17:01 And God knows all the sacrifices that we've made and I'm truly grateful for that
17:06 You know, they say behind every successful athlete is a really, you know, strong team
17:10 And you have that
17:11 Yeah, I do
17:12 Your parents have been there for you through thick and thin and they've shielded you from a lot
17:17 You know, you were telling me about some of the instances in school
17:20 Like in primary school and going into the grocery store
17:23 You know, tell me about, you know, how you've overcome, you know, that early torment as it was
17:29 Okay, so during primary school, you know, we used to share a school with St. Paul's at that time
17:37 And, you know, a lot of the boys would come and especially when it's time, when it's break time
17:44 And I'm going to the cafeteria, you know, they would stop and they would stare
17:48 And then they would call me one leg or break foot or, you know, those different names
17:54 And sometimes it would get to me, but, you know, I really thank God again for my parents
17:59 Because, you know, they would always tell me I'm faithfully and wonderfully made by God
18:04 You know, and, you know, one day while I was in the grocery as well
18:09 A lot of people, this lady was, you know, staring at me and she was like, "Oh, oh, poor thing" kind of
18:15 And then I was like, you know, don't feel sorry for me, feel sorry for yourself
18:19 Even going to the licensing office, you know, people were like, "Okay, you need to get a driving school
18:27 You're only restricted to this vehicle"
18:29 I had to do defensive driving classes first
18:32 And to me, after I did the defensive driving, I didn't want to drive
18:36 I have to go every year and renew my license
18:39 I have to get to medical every single year
18:42 But, you know, it's just one of the things that I think that can be improved
18:45 And, you know, one of the challenges I'm able to overcome
18:49 And I'm really happy that I can even share with the wider public
18:54 And even those other persons who may have concerns about some of the processes that I've had to go through
19:01 Do you ever stay in your room or maybe take a moment for yourself at some point and go
19:07 "Again, you know, this is another point, you know, once again I'm having to overcome this hurdle"?
19:14 Yes, I do
19:17 I had a moment like that where, you know, I really wanted to see some of the times that I was doing
19:24 Calm down and it just wasn't happening
19:28 But I was able to look back on the past experiences that I've had
19:34 And all the stuff that I was able to overcome
19:37 And see where God brought me through in those situations
19:40 And really pray and ask Him for His divine intervention and strength
19:46 And, you know, He always comes through in those times of need
19:49 And, you know, I remember even crying before Him
19:54 And just asking Him for direction and that peace
19:58 And I was able to get that later on
20:02 And, you know, when it all happened, you know, around in April, May there
20:08 And I really saw, you know, how far I've come and that I was moving forward
20:13 What resonated with me was, you know, the fact of not giving up
20:18 And continue to persist despite of the darkness that you may be experiencing
20:25 Or that surrounds you, yeah
20:28 Tell me about some of the training and experiences you've had
20:32 Going away with the Paralympic Committee
20:35 And just being a top athlete that you are
20:38 I know some of it was not, all of it wasn't all glory
20:42 A lot of it, you know, there were really some dark moments
20:45 Yeah, there were a lot of dark moments, especially, you know, coming into the Paralympic sport
20:51 And being introduced to it, whereby, you know, things aren't always in place
20:56 But, you know, even going through those times
20:59 It has helped and shaped me into going into every experience right now
21:05 In terms of dealing and adapting to whatever environment I'm placed in
21:10 So I believe, you know, all those situations, all those hard times where you didn't really like the food in Mexico
21:17 It was too cold or, you know
21:19 Or the Michael Johnson Academy
21:21 But, you see, Michael Johnson Academy, MJP, Michael Johnson Performance
21:26 That facility itself, it's top class
21:32 I've had a great experience there
21:35 And it's through the partnership of BP and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee
21:40 And even Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee
21:43 Being able to have that opportunity whereby I can go and even meet Michael Johnson himself
21:48 And say, "Hi, I'm shaking a gold medalist's hand, multiple gold medalists"
21:54 And, you know, he's just so cool and he's able to share his wisdom
21:57 That to me was very impactful
21:59 The environment there just makes you want to train and work really hard
22:03 And, you know, you get to also meet top class athletes as well
22:08 Like yourself
22:09 Well, yeah
22:10 And even like bull riders and, you know, that experience
22:14 And even experiencing snow for the first time in Texas, you know
22:19 It was truly an amazing opportunity
22:21 What's your expectations for Rio?
22:23 My expectations is to just go out there and compete to the best of my ability
22:28 I expect when I go there I would, you know, enjoy the experience
22:33 Enjoy the process
22:34 Be able to go past, make it to the next round, make it to the final
22:39 And then take it from there
22:40 That's my expectation out of Rio
22:43 And to not just, you know, everybody speaks about the medal
22:47 But just having that pride to represent Jesus and to represent Trinidad and Tobago on a whole
22:54 That just speaks a lot of volume for me
22:57 And I hope that, you know, Trinidad and Tobago really sees and feels the passion and pride
23:02 That Paralympics do, Paralympians do, you know, representing Trinidad and Tobago on such a huge stage
23:10 Chantelle, you were kind enough to take me into your world
23:22 You weren't that kind to me
23:23 Put me through a bit of a workout but I was still glad to get a taste of what you do on a daily basis
23:28 And appreciate a lot of what you go through and put out
23:32 Now I'm going to give you a taste of my world, a bit about what I do
23:36 This is your tool of the trade, your main tool
23:40 There you go, let me pass on that baton to you
23:42 Reporting is quite simple
23:45 For the most part, it's a conversation
23:48 And having that conversation, what you need to do is preparation
23:52 Preparation of what you're trying to get out of the person you're speaking to
23:56 Or what you're trying to get out of the establishment, the event, whatever it is you're covering
24:01 So say for example, if I'm coming to cover Chantelle, I need to know a bit about Chantelle
24:05 And what I don't know, I'm trying to draw out of you
24:08 And in drawing that out of you depends on the actual interview in itself
24:11 It might be a question I might leave
24:13 So I lead you to say what I'm trying to get out of you
24:16 So Chantelle, you know you're going to have a real good time in Rio
24:20 And I would lead the mic over to you and then you'd know I want you to respond to what I'm asking
24:25 Or expand
24:27 Or expand, it can be an open question
24:29 So within all of that, it's about preparation of what you really want to get out of that person
24:35 And of course within that, there's always that silver lining
24:38 Because you might start to talk about, I might initially ask a question on what you think about Rio
24:43 And then you start to tell me about, well boy, after Rio, I plan to quit swimming
24:48 And I go into coaching because I'm such a good coach
24:50 Look what I managed to do with Robert just now
24:52 I took him from 25 meters to 50 meters
24:55 And that's what it's about, making sure that you ask the question
25:00 You get what you need to get, but then you always get that cherry at the end
25:03 There's always that question, that exclusive, because that's what it's really about
25:05 You want to get that exclusive content
25:07 So preparation is the main thing
25:09 And if I may, I'm about to be back talking
25:13 So when you're asking the question, it depends on if it's an omnidirectional mic
25:16 What you do is you just, you ask the question
25:18 You make sure that the person can hear what you're saying
25:21 And then you lean it over
25:23 Now it doesn't have to be a, let me hear what you're saying there
25:25 Unless it's windy and you're really trying to get up to that person
25:29 You may even nudge them in slightly just to ask them what you want to say
25:33 But it's very, the more subtle the movement, the better
25:37 So you have it here and you just really reach it across there
25:40 While you're talking to the person, the person just talks
25:42 And you just go back and forth, or you point very gently
25:45 You just, you know, you try to, again, no mics like that
25:50 So that's just a real quick idea or quick lesson in some of the reporting type stuff
25:57 I know you'll be good at it because, again, you're just a natural at so many things
26:01 So your first assignment, well actually your only assignment today
26:05 Is to interview four-time Olympian, the one and only, Quakely Cleopatra Borel
26:11 Wow
26:12 [Music]
26:20 Hi Cleo
26:22 Hey Shantan
26:23 How are you?
26:24 I'm good
26:25 Very nice to see you
26:26 Yes, nice to see you too
26:28 First question
26:30 In Rio, you know, we saw that team spirit, you know, what drives you?
26:36 What keeps you, Cleo, the energizer bunny?
26:41 Well, for me, it's all about representing Trinidad and Tobago
26:45 And I'm sure you have the same feeling
26:47 You know that we're a small country, not that many athletes
26:50 So when you're out there to represent Trinidad and Tobago
26:53 I'm always energized, I'm happy, I'm motivated, and I'm going to do my very best
26:57 And I'm sure you're going to do your best in Rio
26:59 Oh yes, we are just so happy to have your support and the support of Trinidad and Tobago
27:05 Thank you so much, Cleo, have a good day
27:07 [Music]
27:12 It was natural
27:13 Yes, very good
27:14 I love the movement, the movement of the mic was so natural
27:17 And the questions on point
27:19 Both of you guys are such an inspiration to Trinidad and Tobago
27:23 It's now Shantan for Rio
27:25 All right
27:26 [Laughter]
27:28 All the best, all the best, Shantan
27:30 [Music]
27:34 Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
27:39 Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
27:45 It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us
27:51 Your plain small does not serve the world
27:55 There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
27:59 So that other people won't feel insecure around you
28:03 We are all meant to shine as children do
28:07 It's not just in some of us, it is in everyone
28:12 And as we let our own light shine
28:15 We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same
28:20 As we are liberated from our own fear
28:25 Our presence automatically liberates others
28:31 We all have something that we are afraid of
28:35 However, 2 Timothy verses 1-7 says
28:41 God has not given us a spirit of fear
28:45 But of power, love and a sound mind
28:50 [Music]
28:52 But my strength has become my song
28:57 By your power, you pardoned the sin
29:04 Lift the scans from my eyes, I can see