University hosts first Train Like Champions Challenge
5th February 2009The first of four ‘Train Like Champions Challenges’, hosted by UK Sport, has taken place at the world-class facilities at the University of Bath’s Sports Training Village.
More than 600 people applied to take part in the ‘Train like Champions’ initiative - a recruitment drive run by UK Sport’s Research and Innovation team. The challenge aims to find volunteers to take part in cutting-edge research projects into human performance sciences, in order to discover and test novel training strategies and methods.
The first group of willing volunteers keen to benefit from the expertise of world class coaches and sport scientists, while supporting research that will give Britain’s top athletes the edge over the opposition, were invited to take part in a battery of performance tests aimed at determining their experience level and how well their training history replicates that of an elite athlete.
Sports scientists from UK Sport, the University of Bath, the English Institute of Sport, and the Olympic Medical Institute were on hand to motivate the participants and give them feedback on their performance on the day.
Train Like Champions Challenge participant, 24-year-old Sports Development Officer Lisa Perryman from Bristol, an amateur boxer and European Union Championships silver medallist, said: “I wanted to take part in ‘Train like Champions’ for purely selfish reasons - to find out a bit more about how I can improve my overall performance. I’ve really enjoyed the physical challenges today and the ‘Train like Champions’ experience so far.”
Georgie Starkie, a 27-year-old Ecologist and keen runner from Bath, said: “I think Train Like Champions is a great idea and today has been so interesting – I have learnt just from being here today that I need to include more cross-training in my fitness regime. Even if I don’t get asked to take part in any research trials, today has been worthwhile – but I hope I do!”
Dr Scott Drawer, UK Sport’s head of research and innovation, said: “The people here today have all embraced the challenges we have set out for them. I look forward to working with some of them in the near future as we seek out innovative training methods and performance solutions to help British athletes remain a step ahead of the competition in 2012 and beyond.”
Those who appear to display the characteristics required for specific projects will be asked to commit to various performance projects. In return the ‘elite subjects’ will benefit from free performance assessments and training plans, and experience innovative training interventions under the guidance of world class coaches and sport scientists, enabling them to train like a champion.
Three further Train like Champions Challenge events will take place in Sheffield this weekend and in London to determine the suitability of more volunteers for forthcoming research projects. Anyone interested in taking part in Train Like Champions later this year should apply online.