Olympic therapist ready for Games

Buy photos » Olympic sports massage therapist Julie Hinds with patient Stuart Collier. Picture by Jon Mullis 26.012.006.rug.jm1 (www.buyphotos247.com)

THE ATHLETES may be the focus of attention come the Olympics but they will have a dedicated army of people making sure they are in tip top shape.

Among them will be Rugby woman Julie Hinds, selected from some 18,000 applicants to be a sports massage practitioner for the competitors at the Olympic and Paralympic games in London.

The experienced Bilton sports therapist - who previously worked at the Athens Olympics in 2004 - will be part of a 2,500 strong medical and therapy team made up including doctors, physiotherapists and osteopaths working as volunteers.

Her job will be to treat the athletes to make sure they can perform at their best - something that comes with its own challenges.

Julie said: "There is quite a lot of pressure working during competition. When you have an athlete in before a race you have to give the treatment they need but also be aware they have to get warmed up and be on the start line.

"This means not always treating who is first in the queue and making sure nobody misses a start time.

"The Olympics treatment is provided for all athletes whatever nationality. I will be in the stadium for most of the games so in the last week I will be there for all of the finals and medal ceremonies."

Julie, who has 13 years' experience in sports massage, added she has treated plenty of star names and expected to meet a few more during her time working at the games in London.

But during the games she will not be forgetting her clients in Rugby, and will be dividing up her time seeing clients in the town in the mornings before heading to the Olympic Stadium to treat athletes in the late afternoon and evenings.

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