LJMU’s Professor Greg Whyte reveals how to 'Achieve the Impossible' at Sport Science 40th anniversary conference

Thu, Mar 19, 2015 16:42 CET

Press event and photo call details

What: Comic and Sport Relief Sport Science expert, LJMU’s Professor Greg Whyte, celebrates 40 years of Sport Science with launch of new book

When: 11am, Wednesday 1 April, 2015

Where: James Parsons Lecture Theatre, James Parsons Building, LJMU Byrom Street Campus L1 3AF

NB: Please contact the LJMU Press Office on 0151 231 3369 to arrange access – Professor Whyte will be available for interviews.

Press release: 19.03.15

LJMU’s Professor Greg Whyte reveals how to 'Achieve the Impossible' at Sport Science 40th anniversary conference

Olympian, world-renowned sports scientist and physical activity expert, Liverpool John Moores University’s Professor Greg Whyte OBE, celebrates his new book 'Achieve the Impossible' at an event marking 40 years since the start of Sport Science.

During the 2015 British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Student Conference, Greg, LJMU’s Professor in Applied Sport & Exercise Science, will take part in a Q&A about his new book, published by Transworld, which features the Sport Science behind his iconic Comic Relief and Sport Relief challenges achieved by the likes of David Walliams, Eddie Izzard and Davina McCall. Most recently he trained Dermot O'Leary for his Comic Relief dance challenge, using many of the Sport Science developments which have taken place since the first degree cohort in 1975. LJMU Honorary Fellow and comedian John Bishop also trained with Greg for his five-day challenge cycling, rowing and running from Paris to London and has written the foreword to Greg’s book. He will also be contributing to Greg’s Q&A session with a personal video message.

The BASES Conference, sponsored by Science in Sport, is exploring a range of Sport Science topics including sport nutrition, High Intensity Interval (HIT) training, performance analysis in science and football, SOKKA: football, fun and fitness, and optimising performance in rugby.

Professor Greg Whyte commented: “I am delighted to be speaking at the BASES annual student conference, which represents the future of Sport Science excellence in the UK. Celebrating 40 years of Sport Science at LJMU is a fabulous opportunity to highlight the progress that has been made in sport and exercise science, which has informed the development of my new book, 'Achieve the Impossible.'”

The Q&A will be hosted by Professor Clyde Williams, one of the UK’s most eminent sport scientists, and the founding chair of BASES and Emeritus Professor of Sports Science at Loughborough University. Clyde’s keynote address at the conference will also reflect upon the development and successes of Sport Science in the UK over the last 40 years.

Kate Green, who has spent nearly ten years working across Professional and International cricket and heading up the Personal Development & Welfare (PDW) team as National lead for the England and Wales Cricket Board, will also be speaking at the BASES event.

2015 marks 40 years since LJMU, formerly Liverpool Polytechnic, became the first institution in the world to host a single honours programme in sport science. Also as part of the celebrations, on Thursday 2 April, LJMU Sport Science students and graduates, many who have gone on to work in European/Premier league football and other areas of elite sport, will be travelling from around the world for a reunion at the University. The day will offer a chance to witness how sport and exercise science has evolved over 40 years and the University’s Tom Reilly Building will be open for tours with a range of activities, seminars and masterclasses from past and present staff as well as alumni.

To follow LJMU’s 40th anniversary celebrations go to www.ljmu.ac.uk/sport40 Twitter @LJMUSportSci #sportsci40