The two-strong team of HPSNZers, led by Strength and Conditioning Coach, Simeon Joplin, supported by Physiologist Lucy Jacobs, will be Paralympics New Zealand’s Preparation and Recovery Team at the Games.
Paris 2024 will be the first such pinnacle event for both Simeon and Lucy and there is a very real feeling of excitement in the air.
Like their Olympic counterparts, the team’s role has three distinct phases – planning and preparation including the supplies and equipment needed for the Games, set up and delivery on the ground, and pack up and reporting immediately afterwards.
As first timers in the Preparation and Recovery role, Simeon says he and Lucy are leaning into the experience of the Olympic Preparation and Recovery team and fellow HPSNZers Anna Skipper, Simon Chatterton, Christel Dunshea-Mooij and Sara Richardson.
“We are extremely fortunate to have their experience to tap into, especially Anna and Simon who were involved with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics,” says Simeon.
“Anna and Simon developed a fantastic handbook from their experience in Tokyo and we also meet with them and the NZOC team fortnightly to share information, challenges and learnings.”
Like the Olympic Preparation and Recovery team, the Paralympics team will ensure similar resources in terms of rooms, equipment, nutrition and physiology support are available for athletes and coaches.
“Now the container is on its way to Paris we are talking with NSOs about their on the ground needs in the three main areas – nutrition support, preparation and recovery and gym resources.”
“Because the Paralympics is smaller than the Olympics we are not able to take a nutrition specialist with us however we are getting fantastic support from our HPSNZ nutrition colleague, Sara Richardson, who has helped enormously with what we needed to put into the snack packs we will provide every day while the athletes are in the Village or their base.”
“Lucy has been heavily involved with Sara in putting together the nutrition supplies including liaising with suppliers, forming brand partnerships or securing good deals.”
In addition to the food and hydration needs, the team has sourced ice baths, ice vests, cleaning and hygiene equipment to ensure athletes will experience the highest standard of support.
Simeon and Lucy will arrive in Paris several days ahead of the first athletes to set up the kitchen area for food preparation, the gym and rest and recovery room. They will also ensure a bit of a feeling of home in the athletes’ lounge with a good supply of Kiwi snacks and cereals.
A key requirement is to ensure the venues outside Paris and the Village are provided with support and product. “A number of sports including Shooting Para sport, Para cycling and Para canoe are some distance from the centre of Paris so we need to be mindful of the needs of those athletes and coaches,” says Simeon.
There will be a number of challenges for Simeon and Lucy that will not be faced by their Olympic counterparts. “Because the New Zealand Paralympic team will be smaller, we have some of our spaces in the village confirmed later than the larger nations. In addition, we have to ensure we consider and adapt to the variety of accessibility needs across the team. For example, can a Para athlete get in and out of hot and cold pools, are the doorways mobility friendly for wheelchair access.”
Simeon says another factor they have to consider is around the Opening Ceremony which will be held along that most famous of Parisian streets, the Champs Elysee. “The streets in this part of Paris are made of cobblestones which can cause difficulties for athletes in chairs, with prosthetics and with coordination challenges. We need to consider what support they will need if they want to participate and enjoy being part of the ceremony.”
Although it is the first time for Simeon and Lucy, they are planning ahead for what a typical day at Games time might be.
“We will run a booking system based on the one used in Tokyo. We know from that experience we will get requests for services ahead of time especially for the primer sessions. But we also know we will be doing a lot of responding on the fly.”
And after the last competition ends, Simeon and Lucy have one day to pack up and get out of the Village and then start their reporting responsibilities.
“Lucy and I are very excited by what lies ahead and I’m sure there will be challenges we haven’t thought about. Bring it on.”
