Wide ranging support for Ireland’s leading athletes
With Rio fast becoming a distant memory Athletics Ireland are already in full swing to embed the best possible support for Ireland's leading athletes on the next Olympic cycle to Tokyo in 2020.
Working alongside Sport Ireland Institute (SII) 211 athletes, 104 male and 107 female, from youth to senior avail of a multitude of services. A snapshot in 2016 saw 1717 physio appointments, 210 days strength and conditioning support through the SII and 100 days nutrition support through the SII. That excludes regional providers.
Athletics Ireland's philosophy on High Performance is to develop structures so that we can have world-class athletes, coaches, facilities and support staff working closely together in pursuit of a common good to make a difference in our sport and the success achieved in the Olympic Games, World and European events.
Below is a synopsis of all the work done by the association alongside Sport Ireland and integral staff involved.
Carded Athlete Support - Operation Gold Performance Programme
Athletics Ireland with Sport Ireland manages and administers the athlete carding scheme.
The Operation Gold Performance Programme selects and invests in athletes to provide “more opportunities” and to “achieve performance results” that will be supported on two levels:
1. Performance - Individual Carding:
Podium - World-Class -International, Development, Emerging Talent and Discretionary categories.
2. Opportunity - Team Ireland Carding: support athletes who do not meet with the criteria for individual carding but given an opportunity to represent Athletics Ireland at a major championship.
2017 - 145 athletes offered support through funding and performance services and another 60 athletes will be offered services through team and relay carding
· AAI Service providers, Sport Ireland Institute service providers and regional providers give Carded Athletes access to services across; Physio, Medical, S & C, Nutrition, Sports Psych, Lifestyle, Physiology, Podiatry etc.
· Access to World Class Training Facilities, at the Sport Ireland Institute High Performance Centre where athletes and Coaches can access the four-lane, 130-metre indoor running track, S & C gym,
· Regular workshops, seminars and education programmes facilitated
High Performance Team
High Performance Director - Championship Selection Manager
Summary: Areas of Responsibility
Senior, U23 Athletes
Elite Coaching
Performance Services, Carding, Chps Selections
Relays
Jacqui Freyne - Performance Development Manager
Summary: Areas of Responsibility
U23, Junior, Youth Athletes
Performance Services, Carding, Chps Selections
Gillian Brosnan - Performance Operations Manager
Summary: Areas of Responsibility
Youth, Junior, U23, Senior
Lead for:
Championship Team logistics
Performance Services
Carded athlete support
Charlotte Gillick - Athletes Services Co-ordinator
Summary: Areas of Responsibility
Youth, Junior, U23, SeniorChampionship Team logistics
Performance Services athlete support
Carded athlete support
Paul McNamara - Senior Endurance Lead
Summary: Areas of Responsibility
Senior, U23 Athletes
Cross Country, Endurance and Marathon events
Steve Macklin – Junior Endurance Lead
Summary: Areas of Responsibility
Youth, Junior Athletes
Cross Country and Endurance events
Relay coaches
Shane McCormack - Men’s U23/Sr 4x1 Relay Coach
Daniel Kilgallon - Men’s Yth/Jr 4x1 Relay Coach
Karen Kirk - Women’s Yth/Jr 4x1 Relay Coach
Jeremy Lyons - Mens/Womens 4x4 Relay Coach
Performance Services Team
Athlete services are provided across the country and internationally between physiotherapists, soft tissue therapy, strength and conditioning, doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, podiatrists, physiologists and lifestyle co-ordinators.
