Powerade Gives Athlete a chance to ‘Train Like an Olympian’

First time Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour participant, Ian Burger, might not have completed the race after breaking his cycle’s chain, but was drawn amongst over 2 000 entries to ‘Train Like an Olympian’ at the Powerade Sports Academy that will be in operation at the  London 2012 Olympic Games from 5 - 10 August.

“I entered the competition never believing I would be the Powerade Chosen One,” said 27 year-old Burger from Cape Town.  “When I was called to say I had won I thought it was a joke.  But reality set in when the call was followed up by a visit from a Powerade representative.”

The Biomedical Engineer and MRI Physicist, has just completed his PHD in Respiratory Motion Correction in Cardio MRI and is hoping this will be published in the Medical Journals and then adopted around the world as a new practice. The trip will enable Burger to conduct further research and gain insight into advanced training techniques.  Burger is a water sport enthusiast interested in canoeing, surfing and fishing and more recently he started running and cycling.

“I want to attend all the lectures and speak to some of the sports scientists and coaches at the Powerade Sports Academy,” said Burger.  “I trained as a Mechanical Engineer and my fascination of robotic arms pushed me into Biomedical Engineering.  I am currently working on the MRI scanning of fetus’s in-vitro, but robotic arms still remain of key and hopefully the sporting fraternity would benefit from the research I intend to undertake.  I see this trip as a launch pad for my research and this is a good place to start.”

“Powerade is a performance sports drink, and as such, everything we do around our sporting assets ties back to a scientific approach to hydration and exercise,” said Craig van Niekerk, Coca-Cola South Africa Marketing Assets Manager. “Ian is young, energetic and enthusiastic and is looking at getting as much benefit from the Powerade Sports Academy as possible to help him in his profession and sporting activities.  Hopefully the experience he gains through Powerade will give him that added inspiration that will one day make him a legend in medical technology.”

The Powerade Sports Academy gives athletes a chance to meet and train with Olympic coaches and athletes, focusing on skills in five different Olympic sports including athletics, swimming, football, cycling and basketball.

The coaches tailor make sessions using techniques from the various sporting codes to strengthen an athelete’s condition and help them  become better all round born sportsmen.

The Academy will deliver experiences and learnings in technique, fitness, team work, competition, hydration, nutrition and psychology.

Specifically, throughout the Academy the participants will be educated on hydration and how hydrating correctly with Powerade can optimize performance.  There will be both physical and psychological tests carried out throughout the experience to help put these learning’s into perspective.

Lectures will take place at lunch time including psychology and the application of science in sport.