Michael Harvey Profile
Name: Michael Harvey
Born: 21/09/89
Weight Class: -63kg
Hometown: Manchester
Taekwondo Club: Manchester Aces
Trains: Elite Academy Gym, Manchester
Awards:
Junior European Championships 2008 – Bronze
Dutch Open 2008 – Silver
Belgian Open 2008 – Silver
Olympic Games 2008
How did you first get involved in taekwondo?
I saw a carnival demonstration and started from there.
When did you join the elite academy?
When it started in 2006.
What has been your greatest experience so far within the sport?
My greatest experience so far has been going to the Beijing Olympics.
What are your targets for 2009?
In 2009 I want to be selected for the World Championships team and hopefully win a medal.
What are your targets for the future?
In the future my targets are to win medals at the World and European Championships but ultimately competing at London 2012.
Who inspires you within Taekwondo?
Within Taekwondo people such as Hadi Saei and Chu My Yen inspire me as they have both been Olympic Champions and Hadi still is from 2008. Paul Green is a great inspiration as he is so talented, very professional and generally a very good role model for me.
Outside of Taekwondo, who is your sporting hero?
Outside of Taekwondo I think Michal Phelps is an amazing athlete and has achieved so much but also I like to watch Usain Bolt as he is so exciting to watch.
If you had not chosen Taekwondo, which sport would you be playing?
If I had not chosen Taekwondo I would have liked to be a professional footballer. Unfortunately I’m not quite talented enough at football!
If you had not become an athlete, which career path would you have followed?
If I didn’t become an athlete I think I would have followed a career in sport in some other way.
What is the best thing about being a professional athlete?
It’s great that you just get to do what you love doing full time and don’t have to worry about another job.
What do you enjoy most about academy life?
I enjoy the lifestyle as I get to do what I love full time and be around the other athletes who share the same goals as me.
