High performance athletes in profile
Scanning for Gold has been exploring the anatomy and physiology of high performance athletes since 2010.
The first project focused on five Olympic and Paralympic gold-medal hopefuls. The athletes were the subject of an exhibition combining medical imaging and striking photography. The exhibition travelled throughout Sussex from May 2010 to April 2011. A new exhibition will travel throughout Sussex in the summer of 2012.
Scanning for Gold 2012 takes the project to the next step focusing on the different aspects of what makes a high perfomance athlete - looking at heart, muscle, bone and training. The project also includes scans of former Olympic marathon runner, Richard Nerurkar, MBE, in addition to prospective London 2012 competitiors.
Read more about the upcoming event and exhibition.
About the project
Scanning for Gold looks at the physiques of high performance athletes and gives an insight into their training regimes as they prepare for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
Led by the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) in partnership with the University of Brighton’s Chelsea School.
High-performance athletes in the areas of triathlon, weightlifting and paralympic cycling were examined. They had their bodies MRI-scanned at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School’s Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre at the University of Sussex. To complement this, Brighton-based photographer James Lewis went behind the scenes capturing the athletes’ daily training regime.
The exhibition was supported by evening debates with lecturers in anatomy, imaging and exercise physiology at both BSMS and the Chelsea School, as well as the athletes themselves about what it takes to become an elite athlete performing on the international stage.
One of those profiled, five-time paralympic gold medallist cyclist and current three-time world-record holder, Darren Kenny said:
“Having had so many scans as a result of my injuries, it was really interesting to see my scans from a sports performance perspective. It was fascinating to see the effect of training on my body.”
All the other athletes profiled are Sussex-based and include BSMS medical student and triathlete, Todd Leckie and University of Brighton Engineering student and weightlifter, Halil Zorba.
Photographer James Lewis said:
“I found the whole process of photographing these athletes a great privilege. Their dedication and attention and focus to detail was awesome.”
Head of Anatomy at BSMS, Professor Darrell Evans said:
“This is a great opportunity to promote the wider understanding of science, by linking it to sporting activity.”
The exhibition has been supported by the Creative Campus Initiative, an initiative that creates art projects within universities inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, and is one of eight projects shared between the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex.
Scanning for Gold has been awarded an 'Inspire Mark' by the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. This is only given to a small number of projects and events which contributes to the Games lasting legacy or Cultural Olympiad.
The exhibition has been hosted by the Jubilee Library, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Hove Polyclinic, Sussex Coast College Hastings, the Conquest Hospital, St Leonards, and the University of Leicester.
Touring dates for the the 2012 exhibition will be announced soon.