How did you get into sport?
This is the “How did you get into sport?” podcast where we explore the ins and outs of working in high performance sport.
These are conversations with leaders in the industry about their journey and most importantly how they got to where they are. Working in professional sport is one of the most sought after yet highly competitive industries with limited professional organisations offering opportunities to work at the highest level of their respective sports.
This podcast was created on the back of countless conversations with a diverse range of experienced professionals overly frustrated yet still highly motivated to work in their dream role and asking the question “How did you get to work in professional sport and what did you have to do to get there?” Host Luis Resa is a Sports Physiotherapist who has worked in various elite professional organisation both in Australia and internationally.
In each episode, Luis has deep conversations with Sports Physiotherapist, S&C coaches, Head coaches, High Performance Managers and other leaders in the field of elite sport to discuss what it takes to excel in the world of sport as well as diving deeply into the intricacies of what got their foot in the door of some of the world’s most desirable roles.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. In the meantime, enjoy a deep conversation and learn the specific do’s and don’ts of both securing and surpassing expectations in the field of high performance sport.
How did you get into sport?
Tim Roberts - Physical Therapy Manager UFC Performance Institute, Mexico.
This is one of the most unique, inspiring and fascinating stories to date and Tim shares his entire journey as far, having worked in high performance sport across 4 different continents. Tim provides an unprecedented insight of what it’s like to work internationally, including being one of few Australian practitioners to have navigated living and working in China with some of the countries elite athletes for over 5 years. After stints in China and the UK, with the English Institute of Sport, he now leverages the experience, skill set and knowledge his gained working across various athlete types to now working with the world’s best combat sports athletes as Physical Therapy Manager for the UFC Performance Institute in Mexico City, Mexico.
Highlights from the episode…
- How his experience living in the Ukraine and Peru shaped his philosophies and decisions around pursuing sports physiotherapy around the world.
- Playing semi professional football himself, Tim shares the challenges that most up-and-coming practitioners have with gaining sports physio experience and still wanting to pursue their own athletic career.
- “Sacrifice” and how many suggest this is what’s needed to get ahead in the industry. I ask “do you have to give up your 20s to make it?” Tim’s answer No! and why…
- Tim shares a play-by-play of his move to England and how he was able to obtain a role with the English Institute of Sport having no contacts in England.
- Having built a career in sport in the UK, why Tim chose to move to China for work.
- Tim shares a fascinating story of the recruitment process and how he eventually obtained a role with the Shanghai Sports Institute working with some of China’s elite athletes.
- Tim shares an unprecedented look into what its like to work in high performance sport in China including the challenges, advantages and the unique clinical experience he gained that he would have never obtained unless he had the privilege of working in China.
- COVID affected many in the high performance sport industry and Tim shares what it was like living and working in the epicentre of COVID while in China.
- We dive into the structure and set up of the UFC PI, how services are delivered, facilities, number of athletes etc. and how it differs from Shanghai and the Mexico City institutes.
- How Tim approaches the balance of minimising injuries in fighters but understanding that injuries are inevitable and may even be beneficial to a fighters journey.
- Being unable to speak Spanish or Chinese, how Tim has been able to conduct comprehensive assessment, deliver treatment plans as well as build rapport and connection with his athletes?
People mentioned:
- James Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-moore-4a412814/
- Rob Madden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmadden/
- James Vickers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-vickers-9b522a34/
- Kurt Tropinao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-tropiano-b9962663/
- Adam Forrest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-forrest-17693248/details/experience/
- Heather Linden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-heather-linden-dpt-4758642b/
- Dean Amasinger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-amasinger-076b4b225/
Tim Roberts contact details:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-roberts-601920130/
- Email: troberts@ufc.com
Host: Luis Resa
Contact me on:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
- Email: luis.resa@outlook.com
Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.
