Model, swimmer Elsa Manora maintains figure through sport

A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Swimmer Elsa Manora Nasution is now regularly seen on television advertisements that highlight her shapely figure, doing aerobics and promoting a brand of a non-fat, high calcium milk.

Teaching aerobics is one of Elsa's present activities, aside from being a television advertisement model and a swimming instructor.

"Besides those activities, most of my time is for my four-year-old daughter, Nayla," the 28-year old, who garnered seven gold medals in last year's National Games (PON) told The Jakarta Post recently.

Except for when attending formal events, such as wedding receptions, Elsa prefers a casual look as many of her activities are sports related.

Before marrying badminton champion Ricky A. Subagya, Elsa used to have many pairs of sneakers. Now, she uses only three pairs of sport shoes, one of them is Japanese-made Mizuno.

"They're very light and comfortable," Elsa said commenting on her sports shoes.

Aside from teaching aerobics, she goes jogging with his husband in the morning.

Jeans, T-shirts and sports shoes -- sometimes sandals -- are the standard attire of the 170-centimeter-tall swimmer.

Growing up in a family which instilled a strong discipline in sport, Elsa's father Raja Mulnizar Nasution, who is also a national swimming instructor, taught her how to swim.

Her older sister, Elvira Rosa Nasution, also a national swimmer, gained several gold medals in Southeast Asian Games in the 1990s.

Her love for swimming has apparently been inherited by her daughter Nayla Cahaya Putri. Elsa introduced Nayla to the pool when she was less than one year old.

"At first, I was a little worried. But now she can swim," Elsa said.

Having a baby did not spoil her figure or reduce her level of fitness thanks to her love for aerobics and swimming. She has also accepted many offers to be a model for several products ranging from milk to shampoo.

Many sports commentators have jokingly said Elsa would have had a better fortune had she focused on modeling, rather than swimming since adolescence. Probably. The fact is Elsa's main love is sport.

"I would never leave sport, especially swimming. It's my world," Elsa asserted.