Supporting an Olympic champion

One of the English Institute of Sport's (EIS) senior physiologists is the subject of an exclusive interview with Athletics Weekly this week. 

EIS Senior Physiologist Dr. Barry Fudge recently spent a day with Dr. Matt Long, Coach Education Tutor with UK Athletics at our EIS High Performance site at Loughborough University, to talk all things endurance, and more specifically Dr Fudge's work with double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah.

In a tour of the EIS' world-class facility, Fudge gives a detailed insight into the benefits of altitude training, and outlines his work scheduled to come with the Olympic champion in the forthcoming weeks.

Sessions in the EIS altitude chamber and VO2 max testing are just two of many elements Dr Fudge assisted Farah with in the build-up to London 2012.

“The way I’ve been able to assist Mo is multi-faceted”, Fudge tells Athletics Weekly.

With a doctorate in physiology from Glasgow University, Fudge specialises in researching the benefits of altitude training in terms of its ability to facilitate world class performance.

The interview discusses in detail the work done with Farah in the build-up to London 2012, his move to the United States, and the future of endurance running in the UK.

And more importantly, how Farah 'got it right' in the Olympic Stadium two months ago.

“A large contribution was undoubtedly applying our research on how to rest and recover that helped Mo get his two gold medals," Fudge explains.

“We planned everything from when and what he needed to eat; when and how long to take an ice bath; what type of compression techniques would best aid his muscular recovery; when and how to use altitude exposure and how much sleep he needed to optimise performance. That’s where we were a step ahead”.

The article features in Athletics Weekly, 4th October - the Endurance Special. The magazine can be purchased online here, or from newsagents nationwide.