Talented Perse athletes experience top level training
The Perse’s leading sports stars were given a taste of elite level training during a special trip to Loughborough University.
Members of the school’s Talented Athlete Programme gained an insight into the daily routine of professional sportspeople while touring one of the world’s top sporting universities.
Pupils were put through their paces in the university’s world-class physiology lab, which is used by the UK Sports Institute and was the base for physical testing for a number of athletes in the build-up to this year’s Paris Olympics.
Some students took part in a VO2 max test, which saw them run on a treadmill wearing an oxygen mask to determine the maximum amount of oxygen they can consume while exercising – a strong indicator of fitness and endurance.
Meanwhile, others tried the 10-second maximum power output test by pedalling as rapidly as possible on an exercise bike in an altitude chamber set to 2,500m above sea level.
The Perse athletes also enjoyed a strength and conditioning session at Loughborough’s Powerbase gym, which is one of the largest team training facilities in the country.
Away from the physical aspect of sport, one of the university’s performance lifestyle coaches, who works with their sports teams as well as other elite athletes, provided the students with a seminar based on wellbeing, balancing sport and academics, and teamwork.
They rounded off their trip by taking a look around the campus and watching some of the numerous sports matches taking place around the site.
Hockey players Katie (Year 11) and Aodhan (Year 10) were among the group who experienced Loughborough, with both feeling inspired by the visit.
Katie said: “It was really cool, especially the physiology lab. I’d never been anywhere like that before and the VO2 max tests especially pushed people to their limits.
“There were so many sports going on in really impressive facilities and you would see people wearing jerseys with the national teams they play for, so it was inspiring to watch them training.
“The facilities at Loughborough were so impressive and it’s inspired me to try to play at a high level, so I can train somewhere like that.”
Meanwhile, Aodhan commented: “It was amazing and one of the highlights for me was just watching the sport.
“I’d never really seen the level of sport they play at university, but we watched their second 2nd XV play Durham at rugby and they were very good, so I was quite impressed by that.”