Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Staying Ahead of the Game - One to one with Sue Barker

Sports presenter Sue Barker knows only too well the importance of staying ahead of the game. Starting her career as a professional tennis player, ranking Number 3 in the world in 1976, the former British Number 1’s sporting achievements include winning the French Open Singles Championships as well as being a Wimbledon Semi-Finalist. The three-time Australian Open Semi-Finalist was also a World Doubles Champion.

“I grew up in a very sporty family and fell in love with tennis at the age of six,” she says. “I started playing at school and at the local public courts and imagined the garage wall was Centre Court at Wimbledon, dreaming of playing there one day. When you take pleasure in a sport as much as I did, it spurs you on to be the very best you can and I was lucky enough to turn the hobby that I loved into a successful career.”

At 28, with a weak Achilles and shin splints in both legs, Sue realised it was time to retire from tennis and moved into presenting almost by accident. Her television career has since seen her become a regular at Wimbledon, cover The Olympics and present Grandstand and BBC sports quiz A Question of Sport. “I never really decided to go into broadcasting,” she says. “At the time Bob Wilson was the only other sports person who had gone on to become a presenter, but I was approached to have a go and the rest is history. I have been at the BBC since 1993.”

Now 50, Sue might not be professionally playing tennis any longer, but she continues to make health and fitness a priority. “Even when I retired from tennis, it didn’t seem right if I wasn’t playing or training and that has very much stayed with me,” she says. “It’s vitally important to me that even later in life, I stay fit and focused. During the winter, I try to exercise at least three times a week at the gym and in the summer, I like to get outdoors. I love jogging, cycling and walking my dogs.”

Sue’s busy television schedule means that ensuring she is mentally fit is also vital, with live commentary requiring her to be prepared for anything. She says: “Because so much of my job involves thinking on my feet and interpreting sporting statistics, I have become increasingly aware of the need to look after my mental ability and can’t always rely on food to provide me with all the nutrients I need. I have taken Efamol’s fish oil supplements for quite some time, and I recently started taking their new Efalex Active 50+ to specifically help boost my concentration and keep my memory sharp.”

“For me, it’s a question of self preservation – while I can’t fight time I can help myself stay fit and focused through good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.”

Efalex Active 50+ is the 1st fish oil supplement specifically designed for the over 50s and contains a unique combination of ingredients known for their beneficial role in maintaining memory and brain performance.

Sue says: “A key challenge for me is to be ready for any situation. If you are fully prepared at a live event then nothing will faze you. Sport often throws up surprises on or off the court, course or pitch and you have to be able to react fast and cope with any pressures.”

Carrying off the 1998 and 1999 Sports Broadcaster of the Year awards, Sue’s contribution to the sporting world was also recognised with an MBE in 2000. “I feel very lucky that I was able to move on to a job that I enjoy as much as my tennis career,” she says, “Very few people have one career they love, let alone two.

“I’ve also been able to witness many fantastic sporting moments over the years with my favourite probably the 2001 Wimbledon final between Pat Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic. It had a thrilling fifth set and was very exciting to watch.”

Asked if she has any ambitions yet to fulfil, she replies: “I can honestly say that I don’t. I had such an adrenalin rush playing tennis that I don’t think anything else could ever come that close.”

Efamol’s Efalex Active 50+ is the 1st fish oil supplement specifically designed for the over 50s and is available from Boots priced £9.49 for 30 capsules. Efamol’s scientifically proven omega-3 and omega-6 based supplements offer brain nutrition for the entire family. For further info visit www.efamol.com or call 01372 379828.


Notes to editors:
New Efalex Active 50+ contains a unique combination of ingredients known for their beneficial role in maintaining healthy brain function and performance:

Fish oils provide omega-3 nutrients which are the building blocks of the brain. DHA is a natural component of fish oil and because our brains comprise approximately 60% fat, they need a good supply of this vital nutrient. We currently consume less than half the suggested daily intake of DHA and research has shown that people with lower than normal levels of DHA have a greater tendency to experience memory problems as they age.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is another structural component of our brains which depletes as we grow older. This may hinder the way messages are passed between nerve cells, because PS is the substance that holds cell membranes in their proper position to receive nerve impulses travelling between cells. Clinical studies show that supplementation can substantially improve memory, learning, concentration, word skills and mood.

Ginkgo biloba is an herbal ingredient believed to help maintain memory in the short term. It has been tested in relation to various types of dementia and results show that it can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in normal elderly women.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid work together to ensure a healthy supply of blood to the brain which in turn provides the brain with oxygen and essential nutrients. Research shows that healthy ageing women have achieved improvements in memory, reasoning, verbal ability and mood through supplementation.