Combining work with a career in sports is a huge ask for any athlete.
Having a young family to care for besides forming part of the country’s diplomatic corps makes it even more difficult to find the time to practise your favourite sport.
But for Vanessa Frazier, her role as Malta’s ambassador for Italy and San Marino does not stop her from representing the country in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) as the 46-year-old has again been included in Team Malta for this year’s edition, currently being held in Iceland.
Two years ago, Frazier won a bronze medal in the team competition in Luxembourg, the country she was working in at the time.
Frazier is now hopeful that she can add another medal in the team event tomorrow.
“I have been practising judo for more than 30 years,” Frazier told Times of Malta.
“I have a very hectic life.
“My work in international diplomacy is very demanding and takes a lot of my time. I also have two young children and therefore time management is crucial to fit everything into my daily schedule.
“I’m blessed to have Italian Lamberto Raffi as my coach as he is very flexible to my demands. He always manages to organise sessions in my limited free time and that gives me the opportunity to remain in shape.
“It would be a great satisfaction for me this week if I can help my team-mates win another medal in the team event.”
Frazier said Malta is blessed with a talented pool of judokas who are always determined to improve themselves.
She hopes that their efforts will lead to a healthy return of medals, starting with the individual event today.
“All the judokas here have made a lot of sacrifices to arrive for these Games in top condition,” she said.
“Throughout the year, they have competed in several tournaments in Italy.
“I try to help the association as much as I can by providing them with the links and contacts so that they can train and compete in Italy.
“I’m pretty confident that their endeavours will be rewarded with medal success in these Games.”
Turning her attention to the future, Frazier revealed that she would love to end her judo career by representing Malta in the San Marino GSSE in two years’ time.
“As the Malta ambassador for San Marino, it would be nice to end my career in the GSSE there,” she said.
“But it’s still early to say whether that will happen or not as it depends on many factors. What I’m sure of is that my passion for the sport of judo will never cease as it’s a sport that has given me a lot.”