Introduction to Sport Science

Getting the best performance from an athlete can often involve more than just having a talented swimmer, a great coach and a sound training regime.

Sometimes it involves having a better knowledge and understanding of that athlete, their training process or even medical considerations when swimming. This is where sport science can help.

British Swimming's Sports Science 

More than 100 swimmers within British Swimming's World Class Program have access to Sport Science and Sport Medicine (SSSM) support. Fundamentally it is built around providing access and support to the best performed swimmers. Access and support is tiered and is based on British Swimming and UK Sport’s funding and placement of swimmers within the World Class Programme (WCP).

SSSM services are provided in two ways:

1. By core staff located at each of the four Intensive Training Centres (ITC), including performance scientists, physiotherapists and strength and conditioning, soft-tissue and medical staff  
2. By SSSM practitioners (world class technical advisor, biomechanist, performance nutritionist and psychologist and medical officers) who are not linked to an ITC are engaged to provide central support.

In addition to the support provided by British Swimming's SSSM staff, WCP podium and development clubs are encouraged to use the allocated funds to resource local service providers of services such as physiotherapy, and soft-tissue strengthening and conditioning. Also, where needed, WCP swimmers are encouraged to use their own funding on these services.

Medical Guidance

If you are seeking more general guidance based on the work of the unit then click here to go to our general health issues section for advice on asthma, eczema and more.

Alternatively, click here to find our Medical Declaration Form and read advice on medication and anti-doping rules.