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Nearly one million hours support provided to athletes on road to Rio

Published 10 May 2016

EIS practitioners give over 4,500 each week to support athletes in four year Rio cycle

The high performance system will provide nearly one million hours of support to over 1,100 athletes in the four-year cycle to Rio 2016 to help Great Britain achieve success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brazil.

The English Institute of Sport (EIS), UK Sport’s science, medicine and technology arm, helps elite athletes improve performance through the expert delivery of science, medicine, technology and engineering.

In the four-year cycle to Rio 2016, EIS practitioners have delivered 950,000 hours of support to Olympic and Paralympic athletes which represents over 4,500 each week.

The expertise of over 350 EIS staff provided to athletes competing in more than 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports means that GB athletes heading to Rio 2016 will be the most supported in history.

EIS services support both the physical and mental health and wellbeing of athletes and coaches with expertise provided across areas including Biomechanics, Performance Analysis, Performance Lifestyle, Performance Pathways, Performance Nutrition, Physiology, Psychology, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Research & Innovation and Strength & Conditioning.

This support combines to help athletes and coaches across a number of areas including maximising competition performance, recovering from injury, identifying talent, enhancing physical and mental health and wellbeing and transitioning into new careers following retirement from elite sport.

This support in the four-year cycle to Rio 2016 has been made possible thanks to funding of £59,775,973 from UK Sport.

The funding comes after the EIS worked with 86% of the GB athletes that won a medal at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

UK Sport and the EIS have worked together to build a world-leading high performance system that is currently on track to deliver the best ever “away” Games at Rio 2016.

Nigel Walker, National Director of the EIS, said: “It is the vision of the EIS to be the world leading institute for sport and through the funding and support provided by UK Sport, our ambitious goal is within reach.

“The high performance system we have in our country is the envy of many around the world and that is underpinned by our leading practitioners boasting over 1,100 years collective experience across 11 areas of expertise.

“We remain on track for huge success at Rio 2016 and thanks to ongoing support from UK Sport, the Government and National Lottery, planning for Tokyo 2020 is well advanced as we continue to showcase ‘What It Takes To Win’ on a global stage.”

Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: “With less than 100 days to go to the Olympics and 120 to go to the Paralympics, our National Lottery funded sports and athletes are in good shape. I have every confidence that they, supported by the EIS, will inspire the nation with their performances in Rio this summer.

“The thousands of hours of world class scientific, medical and technological expertise provided by the EIS each week to our Olympic and Paralympic athletes is key to ensuring they are the best prepared British athletes ever.

“The EIS has been the ‘team behind the team’ since 2002, and our high performance system wouldn’t be where it is today without the impact of their talented team of experts.”

Olympic diving medallist Tom Daley has outlined the importance he places on the support from the EIS Psychology team.

He said: “Being an athlete isn’t just about being strong, powerful and precise. Most competitions are won by the person who can keep their thoughts and mind under control. Sports psychology for me is one of the most important parts of my training.

“It’s what can take you from being good to being excellent. It can give you the edge over your competitors. If you can handle the pressure cooker environment of an Olympic final psychologically, you have the power to go all the way and win! The support I’ve received from the EIS in sports psychology has made me into the diver I am today.”

Paralympic wheelchair tennis medallist Jordanne Whiley said: “The EIS leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping athletes prepare for competition. The support they provide both on and off the field of play helps increase confidence and allows me to perform at my very best.”

European athletics champion Adam Gemili explains that the EIS Performance Lifestyle support he gets helps him with life on and off the track.

He said: “The work I do with my Performance Lifestyle practitioner plays a key role in my setup as an athlete. Part of being an elite athlete is not only managing everything you do on the track perfectly, but off the track too.”

GB Hockey Performance Director Danny Kerry said: “The services we receive from the EIS provide numerous benefits to our athletes and coaches. I strongly believe that this service has supported us in getting to the next level in terms of performance so we continue to compete and win against the best in the world.”

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