Having people in positions who understand the intricacies of high-performance sports is crucial. It’s the vision, expertise and passion of these people that will make the difference
Coaches are not just teachers; they are also mentors, motivators and tacticians.
Technical specialists work behind the scenes to ensure athletes are optimised in every aspect of their training. A biomechanics specialist, for instance, can analyse the efficiency of one’s stroke and race plan through data, and pinpoint weak points that can help an athlete shave off those few precious milliseconds between finishing on a podium or not.
A nutritionist ensures an athlete’s body is properly fuelled to support elite training. Michael Phelps – the most decorated Olympian of all time – was famously told to consume 8,000 to 10,000 calories a day, about five times more than an average person.
Then there are sleep specialists, whose jobs are to ensure athletes get adequate rest by analysing their sleep cycles and identifying disruptions caused by training schedules, stress, anxiety, diet or travel.
These are but a few specialists that a single athlete needs to work with. Their work may not make headlines, but it directly impacts how fast an athlete runs or swims, how quickly they recover and how consistently they perform. I believe that it’s their expertise that will give our athletes an edge and help elevate Singapore sport on the global stage.
