The University of Edinburgh and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) seek athletes who competed at Paris 2024 to continue research surrounding the health and well-being challenges faced by elite athletes. Ambitious collaborationsIn an exciting development, the University of Edinburgh has reaffirmed its commitment to athlete health and performance through a long-standing collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This partnership focuses on the connections between sports and health sciences and continues to enhance research initiatives to understand sports' impact on elite athlete health.As part of this ongoing effort, the IOC and the University of Edinburgh have introduced the IOC Olympian Health Cohort, an ambitious long-term research project led by three-time Olympian Dr Debbie Palmer (Moray House School of Education and Sport). The focus of the IOC Olympian Health Cohort is to investigate and better understand elite athletes' health and the well-being challenges experienced by Olympians. The information will be used to inform evidence-based targeted interventions to help mitigate some of the short- and long-term risks associated with elite sport participation. Call for participantsFollowing on from recruitment of Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympians, the study is in the second phase of the initiative and is now recruiting Paris Olympians to join the study.Current athletes over 16 who participated in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are encouraged to sign up for the cohort, helping to advance our understanding of long-term athlete health. The insights gained from this study could significantly impact health outcomes within elite sports, benefiting athletes during their competitive careers and into retirement. Watch this athlete advocate video, featuring Olympians. A significant studyThe study has also just been extended to include recruitment at the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This extension emphasises the continued importance of research in sports science, guaranteeing sustained support for advanced athlete health initiatives.With support from esteemed academics, medical professionals and sports institutions, this initiative could redefine athlete health research for years to come.Related links:Calling all Paris Olympians – our health study needs youThe IOC Olympian Health Cohort | OlympiansEdinburgh Sports Medicine Research Network (ESMRN) | Moray House School of Education and SportMilan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic GamesDr Debbie Palmer Tags Research centres, groups and networks Research news Sport Publication date 28 Mar, 2025
