The UKSI and Manchester Metropolitan University officially launch Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport
A special event for the Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport, was held at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport.
The event brought researchers, academics and practitioners together with athletes and coaches for thought-provoking discussions around the aims and initiatives of the Centre, which is a pioneering partnership between Manchester Metropolitan University and the UK Sports Institute.
The Centre aims to become a ‘go to’ global hub for research, education, and applied practice in female health and performance, helping to support elite athletes and wider public health.
A fascinating panel discussion was hosted by Olympic javelin medallist Goldie Sayers and featured World Indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery, wheelchair basketball player Robyn Love, British Cycling coach Barney Storey and More Than Equal CEO Ali Donnelly.
On the day of the launch, it was announced that knowledge and guidance on managing perimenopausal symptoms for female athletes will be developed through new research led by world-leading academics at the Centre of Excellence and supported by Dame Sarah Storey.
Storey, who won an unprecedented 19th gold medal for ParalympicsGB at this year’s Paris Games, is working with Manchester Metropolitan University to advance research into the effects of the perimenopause and menopause on female health and performance.
The perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause, which usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, and can cause symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods.
While there are a range of options for women to manage these symptoms, there is still relatively little research available to help women who have a career as an elite athlete or are regular exercisers.
Through the Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport, Dame Sarah Storey will draw on her own experiences and academic research to help female athletes to better understand the benefits and risks of managing the symptoms of the perimenopause.
With Storey still competing in her 40s after having two children, she is well placed to share her personal experiences and is now part of a team of academics as a Visiting Professor at Manchester Met.
Storey said: “I never thought that managing symptoms as an athlete, whether that be my personal experience of post-pregnancy or the many athletes experiencing perimenopause, would be the source of so many alternative treatments.
“It’s exciting to think that there are many options out there for women, but what is missing is the expert guidance and tailored support that can help them navigate these times in their lives or athletic careers.”
The aim will be to help female athletes to understand the physical and emotional changes that happen during the perimenopause and how these changes might affect their wellbeing, health, and performance.
Storey said: “The project is personal because, whilst I’m still racing and competing, I’m like a real-life laboratory so I can be used as a case study for as long as I’m continuing to compete and train.
“But it is also looking at how that might translate into the next phase of somebody’s life. Women are usually the ones that don’t compete in their older years. If you look across the general population and any mass participation sporting event, male entry is much bigger.
“I am excited to see the impact this research will have globally, because the same challenges exist around the world.”
Kirsty Elliott-Sale, Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology at Manchester Met, said: “Putting female athletes at the heart of our research is central to everything we are looking to achieve through our work.
“Having the passion, knowledge and experience of Dame Sarah Storey contributing to new research into the under-explored areas of female health in sport will undoubtedly help us to expand the guidance and best practice for perimenopausal sports women.”
Dr Richard Burden, Female Athlete Health and Performance Lead at the UK Sports Institute, added: “The Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport aims to bridge the gap between the science lab and the field of play and this new research with Dame Sarah is a fantastic example of that in action.
“By connecting sports and athletes directly with world-leading scientists, we hope to set a new standard for the sporting system’s collective knowledge and understanding of the female athlete.”
For more information on the Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport and its research, visit the Centre’s website.