A Dundee doctor who looked after team GB at the Olympics has told of his delight at the athletes’ successes.
NHS Tayside doctor Niall Elliott was chief medical officer for the UK athletes and recently returned home from Rio.
Dr Elliott’s normal job is a sports and exercise medicine specialist at Dundee’s Kings Cross Hospital, working with elite sportsmen and women at the sportscotland Institute of Sport.
He said: “Being in Rio was a great experience with thankfully very few illnesses to report and only a smattering of injuries.
“British sport is in a good place at the moment with a performance structure supporting from grassroots level to the top.
“As a doctor in the Olympic environment, we are there to provide clinical support to the athletes who have strived for many years to become an Olympian. It’s a great honour to be part of the team-behind-the-team.
“The Games is all about the athlete journey and it’s fantastic to play a small part in it.
“It has been great to work with some well known athletes from British sport with fantastic success for the athletes.
“Sports and exercise medicine has come on significantly since London was awarded the Olympic Games.
“There is an emphasis on getting the population more active to experience the benefits of exercise, including the prevention of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, mental health issues to name but a few.
“Hopefully people who have been watching the athletes competing in Rio will now be inspired to take part in more exercise to get fitter and healthier.”
In preparation for the Olympic Games and in Rio, Dr Elliott led a multidisciplinary team of sports medicine doctors, physiotherapists and sports nutritionists, who worked alongside performance teams to provide care for the inspiring athletes.
In his role he was directly involved with athletes competing in the canoe sprint, triathlon, tennis and golf.
