So, what’s been the gamechanger for Shanti over the past year?
For one, a change of perspective has helped, Shanti told CNA.
Last November, it was announced that she would join the Sports Excellence Scholarship programme, which supports athletes headed for major competitions.
Being a full-time athlete is a “24/7 job”, she said, and this means understanding that everything she does in a day contributes to her performance on the track.
Discipline, too, is key. Under the guidance of coach Luis Cunha, Shanti has made several small tweaks to daily routines to optimise her performance.
These include taking a cold shower after waking up every morning and sticking with a low-carbohydrate and high-protein diet since the start of the year. Skipping breakfast is no longer an option.