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Loughborough Sport’s support network proves vital for athletes during lockdown

Behind every great athlete is a strong support network, helping individuals and teams achieve their goals.

As the spotlight shines brightly on those continuing to train during the lockdown period, what role has Loughborough’s support network had to play in helping athletes stay focussed, fit, and motivated?

Sam MacGregor, Loughborough’s Sports Medical Clinical Lead, spoke as part of the University’s #TrainatHome series to explain how the physio team has continued to support its athletes:

“The biggest difference has been not seeing the athletes every day, which is weird as you spend time building a relationship to help make them better.

“At the moment we are talking to them on the phone, over Zoom, and over Skype, but we don’t have that face to face interaction. We’re sending them links, videos, and ideas for what we want them to do and all the athletes have been experimental, so it’s been good to see.

“I think for everybody at this time, when you’re stuck in your house, away from your teammates, it’s a battle. I know a lot of the basketball and football coaches are doing a lot of whole team things on Skype, setting them challenges and bringing people together at the same time.

lboro lightning computer screen

Photo: Ben Lumley photography.

“In the grand scheme of life, we’re seeing the bigger picture of Covid-19 and the impact it has had on society. A lot of our athletes are student-athletes, so it is a worrying time with exams and their results.

“Hopefully though, we can rally round everyone and help support them through it.”

World-renowned for its sporting dedication, teams from across the University have pulled together to help athletes throughout this period: from the athletics programme to strength and conditioning, nutrition, physiology, and beyond.

Loughborough University’s #TrainatHome campaign looks at how its elite level athletes are adapting their training schedules during the coronavirus outbreak. With new content and interviews released every few days, athlete videos can be viewed in full by visiting HERE.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 20/86

Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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