A force behind high-performance sport
With 100 days until the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kick off, AUT is recognising the many people connected to the University working in high-performance sports roles supporting New Zealand’s top athletes, including those on the road to Paris 2024.
A number of AUT alumni are part of the 200-strong support team behind the New Zealand Team competing at Paris 2024.
Many others connected to New Zealand high-performance sports organisations are AUT and Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ) alumni and postgrad students whose roles span venue technology, sports performance physiology, performance analysis, nutrition, physiotherapy and strength and conditioning to name a few.
AUT was recently ranked equal 28th globally for sports related subjects in the 2024 QS World Rankings by subject, which coincides with the countdown to the Olympics where AUT is the official university of the New Zealand Team.
AUT Millennium, New Zealand's home of high-performance sport, is also the official national training centre for the New Zealand Team going to Paris 2024.
AUT’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, says he is incredibly proud AUT alumni are involved in one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
“They are an outstanding representation of the career pathways AUT provides and we will be watching Paris 2024 knowing there are talented alumni there making important contributions to the success of the athletes they work with. It is a wonderful achievement on their part,” says Professor Salesa.
Master of Sport and Exercise AUT alumna Anna Skipper is the Preparation and Recovery Lead, Performance Support for the New Zealand Team, providing a key role for the New Zealand athletes competing at Paris 2024.
She says, “Studying at AUT allowed me to hone my knowledge and applied skills as well as gain practical experience that ultimately led to my role at High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). Now with over 10 years’ experience at HPSNZ I am excited and preparing for my role as Preparation and Recovery Lead for the New Zealand Team in Paris.”
Bachelor of Hospitality Management & Bachelor of Business alumnus Misaki Tsurata isthe Cluster Venue Technology Manager at the Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games Organising Committee, based in Paris and says he enjoys playing a part in putting together the world’s biggest sporting event.
“I love being part of a universal cause that promotes unity and excellence through sports and delivering the biggest sports event in the world in collaboration with experts in other areas,” Misaki says.
AUT is proud to be the home of New Zealand's top sport and fitness facility, AUT Millennium, and SPRINZ, the country’s leading sports research institute. Our School of Sport and Recreation is one of the largest in New Zealand, with programmes from certificates to doctoral degrees and over 1,000 students, including 100+ research students. Our world-class researchers work with athletes and organisations around the world to advance current practices.