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Photo:Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
Paralympian Steve Serio is a decorated wheelchair basketball athlete. In his four Paralympic appearances, he’s won two gold medals and a bronze medal. Serio has also won five World Championship medals, including a 2022 gold. In 2017, he was honored at the ESPY Awards, winning the award for Best Male Athlete with a Disability. As he heads to Paris for the 2024 Paralympics this month, we asked him about his morning routine, his favorite part of training and how he feels about his final season.
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EatingWell: What does your typical morning routine look like?
Serio:A typical morning routine for me is very simple. I live a very slow life in the morning. There’s only one thing I need and that is my black coffee. I am kind of a coffee snob, so as long as I have that cup of coffee, I like to get a chance to sit down and relax. Occasionally, I’ll do some mental training associated with my high-performance activities, but it’s a slow and simple morning with me and my coffee.
EatingWell: What drew you to partnering with GoGo squeeZ?
EatingWell: How are you feeling ahead of your final season with the Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball team?
EatingWell: What have you found to be the most rewarding aspect of participating in the Paralympics?
EatingWell: What part of your training do you find most enjoyable? Least enjoyable?
EatingWell: What is your favorite way to unwind after training or while traveling?
EatingWell: Do you listen to music while training? If not, what’s your go-to habit to get into the right mindset before a game or training session?
Serio:I actually don’t listen to music before a game. It’s one of the things that kind of spikes my arousal level and it doesn’t lead to the best performance. I’m somebody who likes to talk to my teammates as we get ready to compete. One of the things that I do before every single game that you’ll see when I step onto the court, is I just try to smile. That allows me to stay focused and stay present. It takes a lot of the pressure off every time I step onto the field of play and allows me to appreciate the moment a little bit more.
EatingWell: What does “eating well” mean to you?
Serio:To me, “eating well” is a very holistic approach to what your body needs at that moment. Any high-performance athlete will tell you that. Yes, you have to train on the field of play, but your mental health has to be in line. Your nutrition plan has to be in line with what you and your body need. It’s never about one meal. It’s never about one drink, but it’s the entirety of what you put into your body. It’s a lifestyle and every aspect of your day has to go to improving your performance and improving yourself so that you are ready to compete on the world stage.
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