Hi,
A glimpse into Charlene. Here are excerpts from the Paris Match interview with Charlene. Charlene met with the PM reporter, along with her newly hired public relations manager and her best friend, at a restaurant (Bean Bag Bohemia) in South Africa on 25 Feb 2006. Since the lack of education quote has been widely circulated, I decided to quote exactly what she said. Also, these excerpts give you a glimpse of her family and her family relationship. Since Charlene is meeting with her PR person, one can assume that the pupose of this interview is to show herself in the most postive light as possible (I guess that is most people's goal for an interview). This rusty translation is mine, so any native French speakers, please feel free to correct my translation.
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PM: Vous étés championne de nation, classée parmi les cinq meilleures nageuses mondiales en 2000. Où est née cette passion?
CW: Ma mère était plongeuse de haut niveau et s’entraînait sans cesse en vie des Jeux olympiques.
PM: You are a swimming champion, classified among the five best female world swimmers in 2000. Where was this passion born?
CW: My mother was a high level diver and trained continuously in life for the Olympic Games
……
PM: Le rêve appris corps aux J.O. de Sydney en 2000. Quelles qualités avez-vous développes pour atteindre votre but ?
CW: La discipline, la détermination et la concentration. Je vivais, mangeais, respirais, dormais uniquement pour ma passion. A l’école, mes notes m’importaient peu, seul comptait le sport. Quand vous nagez, vous ne pensez qu’au moment présent. Aujourd’hui encore, je suis comme ça.
PM: The dream (body ??) learnt at the Sydney Olympics Games in 2000. What qualities have you develop to attain your purpose?
CW: Discipline, determination and concentration. I lived, ate, breathed, slept only for my passion. At school, my grades were not much important to me, the sport only counted. When you swim, you think only at the present moment. Even today, I am just like that.
…….
PM : Etes-vous proche de vos parents ?
CW : J’ai pris ma vie en main très tôt en partout de chez moi vers 17 ans pour rejoindre Durban et Grahm Hill, l’un des meilleurs coachs d’Afrique de Sud. Je voulais être au top dans ma discipline et voyager dans le monde. Mes parents m’y ont encouragée. Ils m’ont toujours soutenue. Mon père m’a même en traînée pendant un moment. Avec moi, ils ont fait ce qu’ils devaient faire : m’aider à être le mieux possible. Jamais ils ne m’ont mis de pression. Ce qui est le meilleur moyen pour qu’un enfant réussisse. J’essaie de me comporter ainsi auprès des enfants défavorisés quand je les forme bénévolement à la natation.
PM: Are you close to your parents?
CW: I took my life in hand very early everywhere from my home at about 17 years old to rejoin Durban and Grahm Hill, one of the best coaches in South Africa. I wanted to be at the top in my discipline and to travel the world. My parents encouraged me there. They always supported me. My father has even trained me for a moment. With me, they did what they had to do: help me to be the best possible. They never put pressure on me. What is the best means so that a child succeeds. I try to act so to the underprivileged children when I train them voluntarily in swimming.