For Hobart physiotherapist Matt Lancaster, the recent World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea represented the pinnacle of a professional journey – working with the Australian team after a decade with top British athletes.
Mr Lancaster was a core member of the Athletics Australia medical team at the week-long, International Association of Athletics Federations’ competition, which ended on September 4th.
Among those in Australia’s team – the Flame Team – who he worked with was Flame Star Sally Pearson, the 100-metre hurdle champion.
It could have been quite different.
Tasmanian-born Mr Lancaster was a member of the United Kingdom’s medical team at the previous three IAAF World Athletics Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
“We have a young family and decided to return to Tasmania after the 2009 IAAF championships in Berlin,” he said in Hobart today.
“Living in London was fantastic and it was a big decision to walk away from what would have been a home Olympics in 2012.”
While Mr Lancaster enjoys the quieter pace of Tasmanian life and working for Allcare Physiotherapy, an invitation from Athletics Australia to join the support team in Daegu was an opportunity to return to international sport from his Hobart base.
“It was my fourth World Championships but my first with Australia, so in many ways it was the most satisfying,” he said.
“The Flame Team members have a great sense of camaraderie that isn’t always present in an individual sport like athletics.
“This carried through to the medical staff who were all great to work with and professionally, it’s always great to be in an elite environment.”
While it may not be a home Olympics any more, is London 2012 on Mr Lancaster’s agenda?
“I guess so, yes,” he said.
“It’s very important to provide our elite athletes with the best support we can from now until then. Track and field is such a tough sport to compete in on the world stage. It’s impossible if you are not healthy.”
Allcare Physiotherapy
