On January 17th, the inaugural phase of Preparation for Paris was officially launched, marking a groundbreaking collaboration between the Female Coaching Network and WHOOP.
This innovative program is designed to provide comprehensive support to coaches preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled between July and September 2024.
Fifty-two coaches, representing 15 countries and 19 sports, have come together in a unique collaborative coaching community. Members of the programme will connect, share and develop as a team, and learn from a range of experts on the importance of their own well-being. Coaches often forget they are also performing on the road to an Olympic or Paralympic Games, and the more they can look after their own health, the more effective they can be for their athletes.
The first webinar which marked the official start of the programme, was hosted by Kristen Holmes, VP of Performance Science at WHOOP, alongside guest presenter Angela Foster, High Performance Health Coach based in the UK. The webinar guided attendees through a series of exercises addressing the need to avoid burnout and educate the coaches on making time in their busy schedules for their own mental and physical wellbeing.
Karina Kozma, a member of the programme who works with the Hungarian Olympic Kayak team said of her experience of the webinar;“the first webinar was the perfect foundation of how to structure our life as coaches, the message is clear: to take care of ourselves first to be able to look after others.”
Angela Foster, presenter of the first workshop titled “Master Your Energy and Avoid Burnout,” stated,
“I was honoured to kick off the 2024 Preparation for Paris series with a webinar on How to Master Your Energy & Avoid Burnout. Female coaches and leaders need more support. This amazing collaboration between the Female Coaching Network and Whoop aligns with my own mission to help women worldwide break the cycle of energy highs and lows and show up as the best version of themselves. These 52 inspirational coaches manage considerable demands on their time with extensive travel commitments and it was my great privilege to provide mindset tools and strategies to optimise their own health for sustained high performance.”
The upcoming webinar in February, hosted by Kristen Holmes, will delve into circadian rhythms and the importance of sleep.
In the lead up to the first webinar, all 52 participating coaches received a WHOOP and a year’s membership, in order to track their own health markers and understand what protocols work for them to optimise their own health and performance. The coaches will be monitoring their sleep, recovery, strain, stress, and overall health over the next 6 months with WHOOP, the most advanced fitness and health wearable device available today.
In addition to monitoring their biomarkers with WHOOP, the coaches have also been part of an active WhatsApp group, which has provided a platform for the sharing of experiences and advice as we edge ever closer to the Games.
Preparation to Paris member Valerie Adams, who is a two time Olympic Gold Champion (with four medals in total including two golds (2008 & 2012), a silver (2016) and a bronze (2021)) and four time World Champion (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013) in the Shot Put. At the last Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, she won a bronze medal at her last ever Olympic Games and only two weeks later coached her sister Lisa Adams to Gold at the Paralympics. This time around for Paris, Valerie won’t be competing, but she will be coaching her sister in defending her Shot Put title.
“Being part of this programme has been an incredible journey of growth and collaboration. The wealth of knowledge and resources shared within this group of inspiring women has been truly transformative. Together, we have created a supportive space where we learn, grow and uplift one another, unlocking our full potential as coaches.”
From everyone at FCN and WHOOP, best of luck to all our coaches!
Members of the Preparation to Paris cohort for 2024 are:
Aimee Boorman (USA) Gymnastics
Alison O’Riordan (UK) Track & Field
Amanda Rego (USA) Track & Field
Anais Second (France) Shooting
Ashley Kovacs (USA) Track & Field
Aukje van Weert (Netherlands) Climbing
Breanne Clement (Australia) Track & Field
Bruna Accorsa (Australia) Boccia
Carla Nicholls (Canada) Track & Field
Carol Love (Canada) Rowing
Carole Bam (Belgium) Track & Field
Casey Atkins (Swimming) Australia
Cathy Walker (GB &NI) Track & Field
Charlotte Fischer (GB &NI) Track & Field
Danielle Boyd (GB &NI) Football
Debora Pijper (Ireland) Dressage
Ellen Minzner (USA) Rowing
Ellen Randall (Australia) Rowing
Erica Erb (USA) Lacrosse
Erika Wheeler (USA) Track & Field
Frida Lindahl (Sweden) Track & Field
Hayley Harrison (Ireland) Track & Field
Helen Clitheroe (GB & NI) Track and Field
Henriette Mere (Norway) Triathlon
Irene Torrealba (Australia) Climbing
Ivi Casagrande (Brazil) Football
Jackie Newton (GB & NI) Track & Field
Jane Figueiredo (GB & NI) Diving
Janelle Pallister (Australia) Swimming
Jessica Medina (USA) Wrestling
Karina Kozma (Hungary) Kayaking
Katie Kriebel (USA) Wrestling
Kelsey Quinn (USA) Track & Field
Kirby Gallie (Switzerland) Rowing
Laura Turner-Alleyne (GB & NI) Track & Field
Leanne Choo (Australia) Badminton
Lyn Foreman (Australia) Track & Field
Marina Armstrong (GB & NI) Track & Field
Michelle Darvill (Netherlands) Rowing
Mechelle Lewis Freeman (USA) Track & Field
Nada Bendova (Slovakia) Track & Field
Natasha Kelly (Ireland) Triathlon
Nicolai Morris (Australia) Hockey
Nicole Pratt (Australia) Tennis
Raylene Bates (New Zealand) Shooting
Sara Symington (GB & NI) Cycling
Shannon Winzer (Canada) Volleyball
Sonia O’Sullivan (Ireland) Track & Field
Valerie Adams (New Zealand) Track & Field
If you would like to find out more about the programme, please contact FCN Founder Vicky Huyton at info@femalecoachingnetwork.com
To find out more about the work of High Performance Health Coach, Angela Foster, please visit www.angelafosterperformance.com
