Goal-setting is one of Hawke’s Bay swimmer Jonathan Burfield-Mills’ strengths.

A Diploma in Recreation and Sport student at EIT, Jonathan’s short-term goal is to take part in this year’s New Zealand University Games.  Next, he wants to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Beyond that, his aim is to take part in several Olympic Games – a not unrealistic ambition, the 18-year-old says, as sprint swimmers like himself tend to peak in their late 20s.

The Sport Hawke’s Bay and EIT Sports Scholarship winner believes his diploma studies will help improve his swimming.  Competing since the age of 11, his physique – 1.87m tall and with an arm span of 1.98m – favours his preferred swimming styles, butterfly and backstroke, and also gives him a good reach.

Jonathan swims for the Heretaunga Sundevils, based at Flaxmere – “the best pool in Hawke’s Bay”.

Swimming requires commitment, a healthy diet, organisation and a lot of training.  He puts in about 20 hours of training a week, getting up at 5am four a days a week to get to the pool and making up the rest of the hours at night.  Sunday is a compulsory day off.

“You have to love the sport,” he says, “otherwise you are going to go nowhere.”

Jonathan’s top achievements include scoring his first gold in the 15-16 age group for butterfly in the 2012 nationals.  Later the same year, he went to Melbourne with the Aquaknights, a squad made up of club members from throughout the North Island, and scored gold in the 100m backstroke.