What does it take to keep elite athletes at their peak, even under relentless travel, pressure, and fatigue? In this episode of Purpose Driven Movement, host Tarek Michael Chouja speaks with Dr Stephen Bird, a professor in sport and exercise science, about the realities of athlete development. You'll hear about the power of planning, the importance of self-care, and why small routines—on and off the court—make all the difference. Plus, practical strategies you can apply to your own life or your clients’ lives, whether they’re an athlete or not. Listen now and get ready to rethink how you approach performance, preparation, and wellbeing!
Our favourite quotable moments:
“Our goal is to assist the player as we've already mentioned to present their best version of themselves next time they hop on court.” - Dr Stephen Bird
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” - Dr Stephen Bird
Dr Stephen Bird - Website, UniSQ Profile, and Facebook
Dr Stephen Bird’s Book Recommendation: When Winning Matters: Lessons Learned from Sports Elite
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About Our Guest: Professor Stephen Bird, Director of High-Performance Sport at the University of Southern Queensland, is an acclaimed performance scientist and strength and conditioning coach. He has supported athletes across six countries and 26 major events, including two Olympic Games, achieving Olympic gold. Recipient of the inaugural ESSA Medal (2006), he has contributed to the field as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning and through roles with professional associations. Currently leading the 2 WIN Student-Athlete Empowerment Project, he also serves as Strength and Conditioning Lead for GB Basketball (Women), focusing his research on optimizing health and performance in elite female athletes.
About Your Host: Tarek is the co-founder of the functional training institute and FitWell Education lab. Tarek is an international educator and speaker who has presented numerous times at the biggest convention in Australia, Asia and the US. In addition, Tarek has presented courses to thousands of trainers throughout Australia, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Tarek is also a best-selling author of ‘Purpose Driven Movement.
This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts.
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