A chain is as strong as its weakest link or, in Team South Africa’s Rio 2016 Olympic campaign, its most hamstrung human, writes Mark Etheridge in the latest of our series of reflections.
It goes without saying that the medical team is key to unlocking medal potential and the physiotherapy component of this team is by and large out of the limelight and firmly atop the physio bed.
Chief physiotherapist in Rio was Grace Hughes and the KwaZulu-Natal based expert shared some of her memories from Brazil.
‘The first hurdle is actually applying to the Medical Commission at SASCOC and then there’s a nail-biting wait until the selections are announced. Once that’s done one has to coordinate meetings and lead the team from as early a stage as possible.’
That helped the physio team hit the ground running once they arrived in Rio.
Then it was a case of making sure there were no square pegs in round holes. ‘One of the more testing tasks is to make sure that each physio is allocated to the codes where they are both happiest and most experienced. This to ensure the highest standard of care is delivered to each sport and individual athlete.’
This is sometimes easier said than done, though. ‘When competition starts, there’s so much overlapping of competition time, so it’s critical that allotted physics and their sports don’t clash.’
And, much like a hospital’s high-care unit, even the physiotherapy section has its own version. ‘Where there’s a likely medal to be won, the physio and medical teams make sure everything remotely possible is done for that athlete (the best physio, best doctor, best ice-bath, rubdown, recovery session, best sleep etc).
‘Even the best hairstyle for the medal media conference – yes, physios truly sometimes help with this,’ jokes Hughes.
This isn’t to say that the rest of the athletes, indeed, the entire Team SA, require their ongoing physio and management all the while. The obvious caveat to that is sleep-deprived, overworked physios who have extended bad hair days themselves!
But even before the Team SA plane jetted off to Rio the groundwork had to be done. Explains Hughes: ‘There are so many bags packed full of physio machines, strapping, massage creams, ice baths – it’s a mammoth task but one where all physios are involved and it’s a great team bonding exercise and where the nicknames start to emerge, like “Dan the Man, Little Eva, Uncle Hugh, Ash-Pash, Mermaid Sandyha”.’
Once in Rio, the physio area was set up at the Team SA accommodation in the Athlete’s Village. Apart from the purely physiotherapy purpose, the area tended to often become one of the most popular socialising areas.
‘The athletes’ waiting area attracts many who just come and “hang out” for some interaction and watching TV with their teammates during competition.’
A prime example and passionate ‘team player’ was golfer Brandon Stone, a regular fixture when he wasn’t competing.
Certainly, the physio area is never purely for medical purposes. ‘We always try and make the area loads of fun for the athletes. Things like “whoopee cushions” and water pistols find their way into the area to help stressed-out athletes,’ says Hughes.
It’s an areas where many ‘war tales’, medal successes and hard-luck tales are shared in the convivial and safe ‘counselling’ environment.
Further extension of the physiotherapy’s ‘range of movement’ emerges as well. One can’t talk about Rio without mentioning the team’s uniforms (in many ways the outfits were different to previous events!).
To this point, the physio team had a competition to determine ‘best fashion entrepreneur’ and ideas for modifying the team kit were put forward. ‘The Sevens rugby physio won the prize for his prowess with a needle and soon had everybody knocking on his door to retailor their outfits!’
As at most of the multi-coded events attended by Team SA there are also moments to let off steam. ‘The physio and medical team also had a good night out at a place just down the road from the Olympic Village [so we could get back to the physio/medical room at short notice if necessary].’
Hughes remembers Rio fondly: ‘These evenings are always a lot of fun and karaoke, joke-telling and raconteuring are all given a receptive [if not always appreciative] audience from the rest of the team and any unfortunate unsuspecting restaurant patron within earshot.
‘All in all, though, it’s a privilege to be able to serve our South African athletes, and in turn SASCOC and SA itself, particularly when the physio and medical teams are as competent and dedicated and selfless and, yes, crazy, as they are,’ concluded Hughes.