Aliya Karmali was the winner of the ConocoPhillips Youth Of Distinction Awards 2014 in the Sportsmanship category.
She is a great athlete, an encouraging coach and a positive role-model to her fellow athletes. With her dynamic attitude, one can easily make out that she is a conqueror! I had an opportunity to interview this young lady and what unfolded during the interview is truly inspiring!
How did you first get into athletics? What sports?
My mom enrolled me in sports at a very young age. I think she decided that for the purpose of teaching me and my two older brothers how to become self-disciplined and eventually learn how to manage our time better to find a healthy balance between academics and athletics. This skill has carried on with me for many years, and I’m very grateful! She put me in a variety of sport including competitive swimming, golf, hockey, soccer, volleyball, etc.
So what attracts you to the world of sports? What keeps you going?
The thrill and adrenaline rush of playing sports definitely attracts me to the world of sports. I am also constantly goal setting for self improvement. Over the years, I have set long term and short term goals for myself. These goals push me to work harder. Whether the goal is to make the race in a certain amount of time, or lift a specific weight by a certain period of time, I am always pushing my self to improve further.
How important is winning? Is it the only thing that matters?
As fun and rewarding winning may be, it is definitely not the only thing that matters. For example, in competitive swimming, when I receive a personal best from a race, my coach tells me, “You just had a great win.” So to answer your question, winning is just as important as self-improvement and perseverance.
Three qualities every sportsman should have?
I think every sportsman should possess determination, self-control, and leadership qualities.
How would you define sportsmanship?
Sportsmanship is having respect for yourself as well as other players. I also think sportsmanship has to do with being a mentor and passing on your skills to others.
You have been a student coach for Dief’s swim team. How was your experience as a student coach? What have you learned from that experience?
I love being a coach! It’s so rewarding for me to pass on the skills and techniques I’ve developed throughout the years. Being a student coach requires a lot of responsibility. I was required to be on deck at 6:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday and plan workouts beforehand. From being a student coach, I learned that people learn differently and have different skill levels and different learning paces that need to be compensated for, so patience is a quality that is strongly needed.
Speaking about coaching and mentoring, do you have any important figures who have inspired you? Coaches, mentors, etc?
My previous and present coaches are definitely huge role models for me to follow. They have inspired me to take up coaching and mentoring myself. At a young age, my coaches were almost like family to me. They cared about each and every one of their swimmers and pushed them to succeed. Having felt that care and devotion myself, I feel like it’s my obligation to coach other swimmers to give back to my community and thank all my coaches for believing in me and pushing me to work harder.
So from patience to maturity, you have it all! But injuries could be quite disturbing and discouraging to an athlete. How do you cope up with injuries?
I have had many injuries throughout my sports career, one even life threatening. The way I deal with injuries is to not get discouraged, but wait to be fully healed then come back stronger and more determined than previously before. Also, injuries may seem frightening. So when I get injured, I think to myself, “Fear is just another reason to try harder.”
Could you tell us a bit about some major obstacles you face or have faced in your sports life?
I would have to say the blood clot that I was diagnosed with in 2011. I was forced to quit competitive swimming for two years and was on blood thinners for six months. When I returned to swimming, it felt like a foreign concept to me. But with hard work and determination, I worked my way back into it and eventually became a provincial qualifier.
Could you tell me something about your future plans?
In the future, I really just plan to keep on doing what I’m currently doing. I want to keep playing sports, and keep improving. Maybe make it to Nationals, then the Olympics one day! Along with playing, I also would like to continue mentoring and coaching others in sports, because it is something I really enjoy.
Lastly, any advice for the sports newbies?
Keep persevering and stay determined. Always keep a positive mind set. Succeeding in sports is something that not only requires physical ability and preparation but also most importantly requires mental preparation. Go into a goal you’ve set for yourself with motivation and don’t stop training until you feel accomplished. That being said, it’s important to watch your limits and know what your body can handle. But most importantly, have faith in yourself and remember that, “Fear is just another reason to try harder.”