A sporting springboard to success

A First Class BSc (Hons) Sport Science degree from the University of Teesside has proved a springboard to an exciting career for Helen Tunstall, for she is now part of a team working with divers who are in training for the September Olympics in Sydney. Helen, 24, is originally from Kirklevington, Yarm and after graduating lectured at Teesside on the Sport Science degree. She then moved on a new post as a Sport Science Officer at The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science at Sheffield Hallam University. She has recently been promoted to Senior Sport Science Officer. Her post involves promoting and providing sport science support to a range of clients, including the Olympic divers.

This support includes mental preparation, video analysis and physiological screening. The latter looks at how the human body responds and adapts to exercise. Helen said: "I am very lucky to be doing this. Competition for the post was high-jobs like this don't come along too often."

Helen came to Teesside from Conyers School, Yarm, where she achieved four good 'A' levels in Geography, English Language, Human Biology and General Studies. She had a lifelong interest in Sport, competing in Tennis, Netball, Hockey and Athletics. She has also worked as a Tennis Coach in the North-East from the age of 16 and is Secretary of the Durham and Cleveland division of the British Tennis Coaching Association. Helen said: "Sport Science was the ideal choice because I love sport and I wanted to learn more about how the human body actually performs and adapts to exercise. The course was a stepping stone to a career in sport, as it combined the development of practical and theoretical skills and increased my employability."

She also captained the Teesside Tennis team to victory in the BUSA (British Universities Sporting Association) League, and has continued her interest in the sport at Sheffield, where she is studying for a PhD which will explore lower limb injuries in tennis players.

Helen added: "I want to develop a broad knowledge and skills base and then maybe focus on helping the development of British tennis players."

*The University of Teesside is to launch a new BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Therapy from September 2000. The course will provide students with a vocational and academic training, to equip them for a career in sports therapy. The course covers several disciplines, which will enable graduates to seek employment in a range of related areas, including the health and fitness industry, sport development and teaching.

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