Pacey Performance Podcast Performance recovery, working with Olympic sprinters, and growing industry trends with Robin Thorpe (Sports Performance Scientist)
Mar 11, 2021
Robin Thorpe, a sports performance scientist with a rich background including time at Manchester United and Olympic sprinting, dives into the evolving landscape of performance recovery and speed training. He discusses the obsession with tech and stats overshadowing fundamental skills, and shares insights on adapting sprint methods to team sports. Thorpe emphasizes matching recovery techniques to specific physiological needs while navigating athlete preferences. He calls for the industry to focus on deeper scientific questions and explore diverse career avenues beyond traditional roles.
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Don’t Let Tech Drive The Science
- We risk becoming tech operators who prioritise data visualization over asking the right scientific questions.
- Robin Thorpe warns practitioners must keep player communication and practical problem-solving central to impact.
Start With Questions, Then Pick Tools
- Start with the question and the process before choosing technology or visualisations.
- Use tech only when it solves a real problem instead of adopting tools because they're trendy.
Leaving United To Expand Perspective
- Robin describes leaving Manchester United as his hardest decision but necessary to progress into leadership and new environments.
- He sought broader experience across sports, cultures, and Olympic sprinting to expand his perspective.