AFTER Australia’s record medal haul at the Winter Olympics, attention has already turned to a pressing question: how do we get even better at the next Games?
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) believes part of the answer lies in science, appointing a leading La Trobe University researcher to help sharpen the nation’s competitive edge as the countdown begins to a home Olympics in Brisbane in 2032.
La Trobe’s Dr Ebonie Rio has been named to the inaugural role of Professor of Research at the VIS, a joint appointment designed to embed world-leading injury prevention and performance science directly into the daily training environment of elite athletes.
Dr Rio will draw on her extensive work in high performance sport to integrate evidence-based research into everyday practice at the VIS. The institute, alongside the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre and the Australian Institute of Sport, is one of the only 11 International Olympic Committee Research Centres worldwide.
Dr Rio said the new role would strengthen the alignment between the two organisations and accelerate the translation of research into results.
“This partnership will allow us to maximise the use of research and innovation to fast-track success and embed findings immediately into the athletes’ daily performance environment.
“The timing couldn’t be better, with the Winter Olympics finishing this month in Milano, Italy, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland later this year, and then the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028, leading into a green and gold runway to our two home Games in Brisbane 2032.
“I can’t wait to see what we can help our athletes and staff achieve,” Dr Rio said.
VIS Chief Executive Officer Nicole Livingstone AO said: “Dr Rio’s appointment ensures our athletes benefit from the very best global research in real time.”
Beyond elite sport, Dr Rio will mentor La Trobe students and staff, with projects expected to deliver broader community benefits.
