When SBS Bank Academy Southland athletes need a physiotherapist, they know they are in good hands with Sportsmed Southern Physio. 

That’s not only because Sportsmed also operates out of ILT Stadium Southland and is the lead physiotherapy provider for the Academy, but because a number of staff have walked the same journey. 

Sportsmed director and former New Zealand badminton representative Anna Rankin was part of the Academy’s two-year programme in 2006 and 2007. 

Former Academy athlete and New Zealand squash representative Mitch Kempton joined the Sportsmed team at the start of this year and footballer Stewart Catto recently completed one of his fourth-year community placements at Sportsmed. 

Anna draws on her own experience with injury when she was representing Southland and New Zealand. 

“When I look back at my time, a big thing for me is making sure that the athletes are recovering and appreciate the importance of that,” she said. 

“We will talk to them about the injuries they need to respect and pull back their training, and the ones they can manage.” 

SBS Bank Academy Southland manager Jason McKenzie said the integration of support services was a key role for the Academy, along with building the overall capability of the sector. 

“Along with developing athletes and coaches, we also have a role to play creating opportunities for providers which strengthens the sports system overall.” 

With an athlete’s consent, Sportsmed staff will liaise with the Academy to ensure any additional support around mental skills, nutrition or strength and conditioning will aid recovery. 

“Things like additional nutrition advice - what they are eating may be leading to a stress fracture, for instance. We understand how the Academy structure works so we can optimise how best to help the athletes,” Anna said. 

A two-time Commonwealth Games representative, Anna said her involvement in the Academy as an athlete had been influential. 

“I think it was really good to network with other athletes because James (Eunson) and I were in a bit of a silo with badminton down here. I had a lot of help and advice from Jason – he was really pivotal in me giving badminton a crack in terms of taking a gap year and going overseas to Malaysia and going up to Auckland for uni,” she said. 

“I did a lot of work with Jason around the mental side of things, that’s probably the thing that I remember the most. With the connection I made through the Academy Jason has continued to support me through a few challenges. I don’t know where I would have been without Jason’s help.” 

Article added: Friday 16 September 2022