Getting Team GB on the world stage

Paris 2024 will be my sixth Olympics after three summer games – Beijing, London and Rio and two winter games – Sochi and Beijing.

The pinnacle for any athlete competing in an Olympic sport is representing Great Britain at the largest sporting event. 

This is how I view the games too.

For me it was an ambition from when I first qualified in 1995, taking 13 years to work towards my first games in Beijing 2008.

My journey started in the NHS building a broad foundation of knowledge whilst simultaneously getting involved in grassroots sport, before progressing to working in elite sport part time then full time as opportunities arose. 

It is a privilege to be selected as the deputy chief physiotherapist for Team GB, a role which means I will be based in the athlete village, working directly with three sports. 

I will also be helping other teams who will have their own national governing body physios and on hand to 
provide support generally. 

We will be a team of six headquarters physiotherapists in the village, and there will be two others based in the preparation camp and one in the performance lodge. 

There will be another 25 physiotherapists travelling with sports, with varying levels of accreditation. 

It is an environment like no other, meaning that we draw on all our knowledge and skills to provide a service to the highest standard

A physiotherapist’s role within the medical and wider support team in such a unique environment is critical. Although we are a small cog in that system, the service we provide is far greater than the job title. As a result of the size of the Olympics, with many sports, representation from across the globe, and the huge volume of people, it can be overwhelming for athletes, particularly first time Olympians. 

It is an environment like no other, meaning that we draw on all our knowledge and skills to provide a service to the highest standard, enabling athletes to get to compete on the world stage.