Speed and strength key for Minichiello

As British Bobsleigh duo Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke bid to win Winter Olympic gold in Vancouver, their speed and strength will play a major part in their ability to stay ahead.

English Institute of Sport (EIS) Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Campbell, who has worked with Nicola Minichiello over the past two years at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield), explains the key aspects of her training which will come into play.

Mark said: “We have worked on building speed and strength in order to get the most effective starts and build power which is important as they launch into the run.

“Over the summer periods, increased strength and conditioning work has allowed athletes to focus on building their strength and speed to their physical peak in time for the competitive winter season.

 “In addition, winter programmes have also supplemented this aspect of training to ensure that individual athletes are monitored and strength and speed maintained as much as possible going into the Games.”

With a full training schedule, Nicola Minichiello’s work in the gym is a combination of prehabilitation, activation, track sprinting, gym based strength and power work and specific conditioning or fitness work.

Mark added: “As speed and strength are priority areas, the focus during strength and conditioning sessions to improve speed has been on producing fast explosive movements through the performance of exercises such as sprinting, sled towing and explosive jump work. To improve power training, sessions focus on moving heavy loads fast during the performance of key lifting exercises in the gym and also the production of maximum force to develop strength that enhances power training.”

Working as part of the support team to British Bobsleigh, Mark works alongside other support staff including those across the EIS.

 “A vital area for the athletes is injury prevention with a strong working relationship existing between EIS practitioners across the fields of medicine, physiotherapy, soft tissue therapy and strength and conditioning.

“Without this support team around the athletes maintaining their physical well-being, I would not be able to develop them as much as in the areas of speed and strength.”

Today is the last day of training for current World Champions Cooke and Minichiello before two days of competition which get underway tonight at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Team GB will also be represented in the event by Paula Walker and Kelly Thomas