Members of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC) have taken centre stage in a recent series of episodes from Loughborough University’s ‘Let’s Talk Para’ podcast. The podcast, which launched at the beginning of the academic year, is dedicated to spotlighting para athletes and the world of disability and para sport.
Spanning six engaging episodes, current and former PHC members share their experiences of engaging in disability and para sport research, showcasing the diversity and impact of their work and offering listeners a unique glimpse into the world of disability and para sport.
Thank you to Yasmina Eissa and The Para and Disability Sport Exec for inviting us onto the podcast.
Episode 10 features Professor Vicky Tolfrey, Director of the PHC, who shares her insights into the science behind elite performance, the evolution of para sport research, and the impact of her work on athlete preparation and recovery.
In Episode 11, Adam Dickinson, a Research Associate in Knowledge Translation and Stakeholder Engagement with the PHC, discusses his doctoral work exploring participation in wheelchair basketball. He provides valuable insights into the experiences and opportunities within the sport, contributing to a deeper understanding of access, development, and inclusion.
Episode 12 showcases Dr Fransiska Bossuyt, a Visiting Fellow from ETH Zurich, who discusses her research specialising in scapular kinematics and the biomechanics of soft-tissue injuries. She focuses on understanding muscle and tendon function to improve injury prevention and treatment and talks about her collaboration with PHC members and her involvement with para sport beyond research.
Current Doctoral Researcher Daniel Angus is featured in Episode 13, where he talks about his research exploring the psychophysiological responses to stress in elite para footballers. Daniel, a partially sighted footballer player, shares how his journey in para football has shaped and inspired his research.
Episode 14 welcomes PHC alumnus Mike Hutchinson, now Head of Classification at the International Paralympic Committee, who delves into his journey in para sport and explains the pivotal role of classification in the para sport movement.
Finally, Episode 15 features current Doctoral Researcher and former Paralympic swimmer Iain Gowans. He discusses his research on intentional misrepresentation in para sport and how his journey into Para swimming and work with ParalympicsGB inspired his PhD research. Iain also highlights his development of educational materials for athletes and staff on classification, which have been reproduced and translated globally.
All episodes are available to listen to here:
Spotify: Lets Talk Para | Podcast on Spotify
Apple podcasts: Lets Talk Para - Podcast - Apple Podcasts