Impairment Analysis and Athlete Development in Para Cycling: Optimising Performance & Pathways to Brisbane 2032

Campus Plus are pleased to announce a new National Industry PhD Program partnership driving innovation in Para sport performance and athlete development in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This partnership brings together the world class high-performance sport systems, elite athlete development programs, and applied coaching capabilities of AusCycling Ltd and the leading rehabilitation, clinical exercise physiology, and Para sport research expertise of The University of Queensland to explore impairment-informed performance optimisation and athlete development pathways in Para Cycling ahead of Brisbane 2032.

The project, "Impairment Analysis and Athlete Development in Para Cycling: Optimising Performance & Pathways to Brisbane 2032." will investigate how impairment profiles influence training responsiveness, classification, and performance through longitudinal data analysis, evidence synthesis, and targeted physiological and biomechanical studies. The goal is to develop an evidence-based framework to inform athlete development, talent identification, and high-performance strategies in Para Cycling.

The research will be conducted by PhD candidate Luke Caughey (pictured second from left, and behind the bicycle) with academic support from Associate Professor Emma Beckman from The University of Queensland, and the industry mentorship of Sheila Galloway from AusCycling. Congratulations to all involved!

With thanks to Diogo Quilice for facilitation within UQ.