Physiotherapist shows Olympic ambition

Australian triathletes are poised to make history at the 2008 Olympic Games, and UQ graduate Mark Alexander will be playing his part in the attempt.

Mr Alexander is a sports physiotherapist with the national triathlon team, and heads to Beijing with high hopes they can come away with their first gold medal in the event.

“It was always my dream to go to the Olympics as an athlete but genetics didn't help me out so I made a goal to go as a physiotherapist,” he said.

“I was a volunteer at the Sydney Olympics, an official team member in Athens 2004 and now off to my third Games. It is always an awesome experience and being a physiotherapist to the
Australian triathlon team really is an amazing honour."

Triathlon is part of the Olympic program for only the third time, with the 1.5km swim, 40km bike leg and 10km run taking place in and around the historic Ming Tomb Reservoir site. The women’s race takes place on August 18 with the men’s event following the next day.

Mr Alexander said physiotherapists played an increasingly important role in taxing events like the triathlon.

“It isn’t only about treatment and relieving pain anymore, it is operating in a high performance team with the athlete, coach and support staff such as biomechanists, physiologists and sports psychologists,” he said.

“It’s all about getting the athlete to the start line, in the best possible shape in the best possible frame of mind.”

He said the preparation for Beijing would be finely tuned to provide the team with the best chance of performing at their peak.

“The athletes and support staff will arrive in Beijing from various places only 3-4 days prior to the event to reduce the risk of getting sick over there and ensuring the athletes can get good quality training in as well,” he said.

On top of his Olympic duties, Mr Alexander also lectures at La Trobe University and runs his own back care company selling Bakballs, a self-treatment device that relieves back pain.

An avid sports fan, he has previously worked with the London Broncos rugby league team and looked after the Australian triathletes during the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Once the serious side of competition in Beijing is over, Mr Alexander said he looked forward to discovering the surrounding sights, particularly the Great Wall of China.

Fellow UQ physiotherapy graduates Ivan Hooper (rowing) and Shane Lemcke (track and field) are also part of the Australian Olympic team.

Media: Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)