Home and away, Mel’s global mission for female athletes
Female athletes can balance a world-beating career and a baby – and one CQUniversity expert is sharing the best-practice approach at the pinnacle of international sport.
World-leading pregnancy and postpartum exercise science researcher Associate Professor Melanie Hayman is driving ground-breaking work to support athletes through motherhood, and last month took her work to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Top-level advice
Assoc Prof Hayman was part of a consensus meeting on sport participation for athletes during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum, alongside other experts from around the world.
The group presented results from an 18-month research project, and Assoc Prof Hayman was part of the four-person steering committee.
The meeting consolidated expertise and new data, and highlighted opportunities for new practical guidelines, she said.
“Our approach to the meeting didn't just review the evidence, or debate recommendations – our research-informed approach puts the athlete squarely at the centre of every decision about how women train, and compete, and access support,” Assoc Prof Hayman explained.
The meeting also included first female President of the IOC Kirsty Coventry, and Australian Olympian and Australian Institute of Sport Female Performance & Health Initiative project lead Dr Rachel Harris.
Grassroots guidance
Assoc Prof Hayman’s insights also took centre stage recently, at the inaugural NRLW Rookie Female Health Expo which she helped create.
Delivered by League Ahead, the wellbeing initiative of the NRL and NRLW, the expo covered menstrual cycle, nutrition, injury prevention, breast and pelvic health – and Assoc Prof Hayman’s long-running work with the NRLW helped bring it to life.
“To have so many amazing experts and colleagues answer my call, and be a part of prioritising health for athletes, it was epic to see the vision come together!” she said.
Shifting focus for support
Earlier this year, CQUniversity partnered with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for the Women in Sport Congress, as a University Sponsor of the biennial event.
The Congress highlighted ground-breaking work to drive the AIS Best-Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood, the world’s most comprehensive initiative to guide sporting clubs and organisations in athlete support.
Assoc Prof Hayman is the lead author of the recommendations, and this year she published new research showing how an elite Australian kayaker trained safely through pregnancy to return to her sport at the highest level.
She is also on a health taskforce for the global Women’s Tennis Association.
CQUniversity is a leading university in SPORT (Sport and exercise, Physical activity, Occupational and Rehabilitation Therapies), working with grassroots, government and industry partners for improved health, wellbeing, community and performance outcomes.
As a member of the AIS Elite Sport Education Network, CQU also offers flexible and tailored support for elite sportspeople to achieve their education and performance goals.
Learn more about sport research and opportunities via the SPORT at CQUniversity website.
