Team Kellogg's: Interview with Olympic Hopeful Michael Landers
Friday, February 24, 2012 Posted by Piera Jolly
The 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London are only a few short months away and I for one, can't wait! I am especially rooting for Team Kellogg's -- a select group consisting of a U.S. Olympic legend and several U.S. Olympic and Paralympic champions and hopefuls training to represent Team USA at the Summer games this year! Kellogg decided to partner with this great group because they are proof that a great start to every day is a critical component to success. See...us moms are right! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
On Team Kellogg's you'll find Olympic-hopeful, Michael Landers, a 17-year-old from Old Westbury, Long Island, who recently trounced contenders twice his age at the National Championships in Las Vegas and will be competing at the 2012 Table Tennis Trials, taking place February 9-12 in Cary, North Carolina.
We got an exclusive interview with Michael and his mom where they share the factors that played a huge role in his success. Read below for the interview...
How did you first become interested in Table Tennis?
(Mike) We had a table at home and my dad and I would play for fun when I was little. At the age of nine, almost 10, I was playing hide-and-seek with friends, and I saw a great garbage can, but didn't realize it had wheels. When I tried to climb into it quickly and hide, the wheels gave out, I fell over, landed on my left hand (I am a righty) and broke my left elbow so badly, that I required surgery with pins to hold it in place. I started taking table tennis lessons from a National Coach in Flushing, NY soon thereafter because there was no other sport I could play with a cast on my left arm. I instantly fell in love with the game and ultimately gave up all other sports to play full time.
When training, do you have a specific diet that helps you perform best?
(Mike) It is very important when I train and especially play, that I eat foods that will give me energy, yet hold me through vigorous workouts and matches. Protein is a huge staple in my diet, as is fiber, but I try to eat balanced meals, adding fruits and vegetables whenever I can.
What's your go-to meal for breakfast?
(Mike) I love to eat cereal and milk because it is quick and easy, and I can still get the nutrition from it that I need for a good start to my day. I would have to say Frosted Mini Wheats, Special K (with berries), Rice Krispies (which I love the taste of) are first choices. I would grab a banana with that and I'm set until lunchtime.
How do you support Michael in his passion for Table Tennis?
(Mike's Mom) I am so fortunate to be able to be a full-time, at-home parent and be around to take Michael to the gym, drive him to the train station, wherever he needs to go since he doesn't have a license yet because he hasn't been home 16 weeks in a row in order to take Driver's Ed! I also help him set up and maintain his training schedule, both at the gym and on the table. Since he schools online, I keep an eye on his academic progress and really just try to help him balance and manage his time each day. With so much going on in his life, he needs a secretary! I also attend many of his tournaments because as the "food mom," it's my job to make sure Michael and his friends that are playing, have good meals to eat instead of grabbing the hot dogs or other not-so-appealing foods that are sold by vendors at the tournament venues. I am happy to say, he has become extremely independent when traveling alone, and he takes very good care of himself when away for long periods of time.
What role did nutrition play in Michael's upbringing?
(Mike's Mom) As my kids were growing up, I tried to instill good eating habits in them. Since we are an active, athletic family, I always tried to make sure they had a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks were along the lines of fruits, carrots, low sugar granola bars, GORP (good 'ole raisins and peanuts), no empty carbohydrates if I could help it, but I never wanted to start a fight over food! Basically, tried to get them to eat nutritious stuff as much as possible. Michael really enjoyed the "help yourself" platter, where I'd put a bunch of different choices on a plate, such as turkey, carrots, cheese sticks, sometimes pretzels, etc., and they would pick and choose whatever they'd like. Today, Michael understands the roles different foods play in his development as an athlete and he tries, whenever possible, to eat good stuff for his body.
Go Team Kellogg's! Make sure to check out the contest Kellogg's is having right now--you could win a trip for two to cheer on Team USA at the 2012 Olympics in London! Click HERE to enter.
On Team Kellogg's you'll find Olympic-hopeful, Michael Landers, a 17-year-old from Old Westbury, Long Island, who recently trounced contenders twice his age at the National Championships in Las Vegas and will be competing at the 2012 Table Tennis Trials, taking place February 9-12 in Cary, North Carolina.
We got an exclusive interview with Michael and his mom where they share the factors that played a huge role in his success. Read below for the interview...
How did you first become interested in Table Tennis?
(Mike) We had a table at home and my dad and I would play for fun when I was little. At the age of nine, almost 10, I was playing hide-and-seek with friends, and I saw a great garbage can, but didn't realize it had wheels. When I tried to climb into it quickly and hide, the wheels gave out, I fell over, landed on my left hand (I am a righty) and broke my left elbow so badly, that I required surgery with pins to hold it in place. I started taking table tennis lessons from a National Coach in Flushing, NY soon thereafter because there was no other sport I could play with a cast on my left arm. I instantly fell in love with the game and ultimately gave up all other sports to play full time.
When training, do you have a specific diet that helps you perform best?
(Mike) It is very important when I train and especially play, that I eat foods that will give me energy, yet hold me through vigorous workouts and matches. Protein is a huge staple in my diet, as is fiber, but I try to eat balanced meals, adding fruits and vegetables whenever I can.
What's your go-to meal for breakfast?
(Mike) I love to eat cereal and milk because it is quick and easy, and I can still get the nutrition from it that I need for a good start to my day. I would have to say Frosted Mini Wheats, Special K (with berries), Rice Krispies (which I love the taste of) are first choices. I would grab a banana with that and I'm set until lunchtime.
How do you support Michael in his passion for Table Tennis?
(Mike's Mom) I am so fortunate to be able to be a full-time, at-home parent and be around to take Michael to the gym, drive him to the train station, wherever he needs to go since he doesn't have a license yet because he hasn't been home 16 weeks in a row in order to take Driver's Ed! I also help him set up and maintain his training schedule, both at the gym and on the table. Since he schools online, I keep an eye on his academic progress and really just try to help him balance and manage his time each day. With so much going on in his life, he needs a secretary! I also attend many of his tournaments because as the "food mom," it's my job to make sure Michael and his friends that are playing, have good meals to eat instead of grabbing the hot dogs or other not-so-appealing foods that are sold by vendors at the tournament venues. I am happy to say, he has become extremely independent when traveling alone, and he takes very good care of himself when away for long periods of time.
What role did nutrition play in Michael's upbringing?
(Mike's Mom) As my kids were growing up, I tried to instill good eating habits in them. Since we are an active, athletic family, I always tried to make sure they had a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks were along the lines of fruits, carrots, low sugar granola bars, GORP (good 'ole raisins and peanuts), no empty carbohydrates if I could help it, but I never wanted to start a fight over food! Basically, tried to get them to eat nutritious stuff as much as possible. Michael really enjoyed the "help yourself" platter, where I'd put a bunch of different choices on a plate, such as turkey, carrots, cheese sticks, sometimes pretzels, etc., and they would pick and choose whatever they'd like. Today, Michael understands the roles different foods play in his development as an athlete and he tries, whenever possible, to eat good stuff for his body.
Go Team Kellogg's! Make sure to check out the contest Kellogg's is having right now--you could win a trip for two to cheer on Team USA at the 2012 Olympics in London! Click HERE to enter.
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