Sport NI Sports Institute Head of Strength and Conditioning David Lasini is heading to Paris to support the next set of Team GB athletes looking to achieve Olympic glory.
Lasini is going to his second Olympic Games after being part of Team GB in Tokyo as a physical preparation coach but this time will be the Acting Lead for Performance Science in Paris.
He said: “The role involves managing the performance science team which is made up of three physical preparation coaches based at each of the three Team GB training sites over in Paris.
“At each of those sites there will be a performance gym environment and I will be responsible for the setup, maintenance, management and the running of those performance gyms for all Team GB Athletes to access and use.
“I’ll be predominantly looking after the logistics to get the facilities setup and ready for the Athletes and at times I’ll be helping to service sports as well. They will have their own coaches, programmes but I’ll be there to support them, help with any coaching tips they might want or supervision support to make sure they have got what they want.”
The role changed after the original Lead was unable to travel to the Olympics, but Lasini has enjoyed stepping up and taking on a new role.
He explained: “I was proud to have been offered the chance to take this role at short notice. I was ready to do the same role again, but it’s been good to have this chance to look at all three sites rather than the one I would have been based in and increase my visibility to the operation.”
Sports Institute staff have played important roles in Team GB since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and this legacy will continue in Paris.
Lasini believes this showcases the expertise that the Sports Institute has to offer to Athletes and Governing Bodies. He added: “It’s great to have people from Northern Ireland involved in Team GB and show that there is opportunity to be involved.
“It’s great that we have staff who will be part of Team GB and Team Ireland to see two systems and the knowledge we bring back from those. It shows that the staff operating at the Institute are highly thought of and valued to be given these opportunities. We are seen as people who can deliver on the highest stage.”
And finally, what is David looking forward to in Paris? He answered: “The buzz of the Olympics. I have followed the Olympics since I was little and getting to experience that pressure of the environment and to then thrive when you do your job well is a special feeling.”