Meet the team helping West Country Olympians to realise their potential

We've spent time at the Plymouth facilities which many of those who've headed to Paris have used

Megan Okey from Plymouth Marjon University talks through some of the elite level equipment they use
Author: Andrew KayPublished 26th Jul 2024
Last updated 26th Jul 2024

Four-time Olympic medallist Tom Daley from Plymouth and double rowing champion Helen Glover from Cornwall will carry the flag for Team GB at this evening's opening ceremony.

The Paris Games' organisers are doing things differently this year - with around 300,000 people expected to watch over 10,000 athletes parade on boats up the River Seine.

Many of the athletes from across Devon and Cornwall competing in Paris will have used the elite testing and training facilities at Plymouth Marjon University.

Sarah Martin, a senior lecturer in sports rehabilitation, said: "We've got partnerships with a lot of the professional clubs around the area, we get a lot of elite athletes - certainly those from the academy levels and those up and coming through.

"Obviously with the Olympics we've had some of the atheletes that are now featuring in the Olympics - they've come in for treatments and it's a great experience for the students."

She says as well as testing of the atheletes and identifying strengths, weaknesses and injury prevention plans they might also ask: "Do we need to go down a different pathway?

The Plymouth Life Centre has also spoken with us about its work preparing Olympic level divers

"Do we need to seek support from our sports' science team, do we need to get a psychologist involved? It's really a multi-disciplinary approach where they work not just with the athletes but with everyone that's surrounding them."

The action has already got under way in Paris with preliminary competitions taking place in sports including rugby sevens, handball and archery.

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