Science and success

To date 144 players and athletes have accessed sports science and medical support services provided by the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick, making 1,235 visits between them. Sports physiology, nutrition, medicine, psychology and biomechanics are covered by the network, which operates on an all-island basis. What is interesting about the breakdown is that the most successful group of sports, in terms of Olympic Games and other major championships, are the most frequent users of the facilities.

Rowing, where Irish interest in Olympic medals has always been high, had 456 visits from 25 athletes, while athletics, perhaps the biggest provider of championship medals, had 353 visits from 39 athletes. Third on the list was canoeing, where athletes such as Ian Wiley have been in the hunt for a medal over the past number of years, which had 75 visits from 12 individuals.