excellent and there was so much variety that I would challenge anyone not to be able to find something to enjoy – and this from a very fussy eater. Our apartment was one floor

above our treatment room, which was adjacent to the British Olympic Association (BOA) treatment room. It took 30 seconds to walk to work. Tough times! I am very lucky to be part of a

team that trusts my abilities without reservation. All of the specific soft tissue issues that arose came to me and, as always, there was continued and unwavering best practice behaviour. Regular discussions with the whole team ensured that each athlete got the best from all of us. Regular cross-referral and follow-up was a fundamental rule.

Post-competition rubs and flushes

were shared by the whole team in order to avoid athletes waiting around unnecessarily, so they could go off to continue with their recovery strategies – refuelling, ice baths, resting, sleeping. All of these things, combined with a strict directive of treatment times and recurrence, kept things running smoothly and efficiently. Organisationally, I couldn’t fault how

easy things were. Even the laundry system was efficient: we were given a blue zipped bag for colours and a pink one for whites. On the top of each bag was a barcode. When you checked in your laundry (which was free and returned less than 12 hours later), your barcode and accreditation were scanned. This identified you, and the block, floor, apartment, room and actual bed where you were staying, making it almost impossible to lose your clothes. This may be just a small thing, but it highlights how the organisers thought of everything.

One of the highlights of my trip was

watching the men’s triple jump final. Working very closely with jumpers, I found this valuable both personally and professionally. Another highlight was one of the days when it was my turn to stay in the village and look after the treatment area. It was the day Chrissie Ohuruogu won gold. There were three apartment blocks assigned to the GB team and you could hear everyone shouting and screaming as Chrissie passed the finish line. You could almost see the blocks shaking.

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With the windows open, you heard the heartfelt, passionate belting out of the national anthem in surround sound as she stood on the rostrum to have her prize placed around her neck. I still get goose bumps thinking about that. Being right next door to the BOA treatment room with their huge flat- screen TV, we were able to see or hear all the other successes of the British team while we were treating. We saw the team members as they dripped in one by one to the treatment room to be assessed or treated, and sometimes we watched with them as the repeats came up on the screen – quite surreal. All in all, this was a positive experience both professionally and personally. I have to thank the rest of the medical team for trusting in me and for making my job easy, as I know I have high expectations. Athens, Beijing ... now roll on

London 2012, where I know again I will be an even better practitioner with another four years’ experience and expertise. It’s not all about the technical skills that I now take for granted – it’s about being part of the team and doing everything I can to help that team fulfil its duties, right down to making cups of tea and offering a shoulder to cry on. This time, we will be on home soil. Awesome!

If I had any advice for therapists hoping to be part of 2012, whether as a volunteer or with a team, I would say this: n Know your stuff and know it well. n Don’t skimp on the amount of

Sports massage delivery in the Beijing Olympic village

Paula and Christine Ohuruogu in Beijing

information you read, source and discuss. n Work in an interdisciplinary way: cross-referral and feedback are paramount for best practice. n Forge relationships with the physiotherapists and doctors with whom you work: you have a lot you can teach each other. n Team, team, team! Support each other!

THE AUTHOR

Paula Clayton joined the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in 2003 as a sports soft tissue therapist and is now head of the soft tissue therapy steering group at the EIS. The group is responsible for fostering relationships between physiotherapy and soft tissue therapy and encouraging best practice through constant integration within the interdisciplinary team. Paula is also senior soft tissue therapist for the GB track and field team and has travelled extensively to major championships for the past five years. Before joining EIS Paula worked in football, with a stint at Birmingham City followed by four years at West Bromwich Albion, where she saw them promoted to the Premiership.

sportEX dynamics 2009;19(Jan):7-8