THE SCIENCE OF SPORT
UWC alumnus Warren Lucas becomes the first exercise scientist for Gymnastics South Africa By Myolisi Gophe
U
WC alumnus Warren Lucas was this year appointed as the exercise scientist for Gymnastics South Africa’s national teams ahead of the international tournaments such as the African Championships and World Championships. Not only is Lucas the first exercise scientist for the organisation but he is applying the knowledge he obtained through his studies to ensure the development of gymnastics in the country. And he is among countless UWC graduates who have gone on to improve society. “As gymnastics grows and develops in South Africa, so does the need for knowledge within exercise science and sports medicine,” explains Lucas, who obtained his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sport and Recreation Management in 2011, his BA Honours in Sport and Recreation Management in 2012, and a Masters in Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science in 2016, all from UWC. “We have made progress in developing a basis for knowledge within gymnastics in the past through some of my research as a Masters student at UWC, as well as through the work of Dr Denise Bouah, whose work lies in the sport psychology of high-performance athletes, and Dominic Rhodes with his work in injuries and physiotherapy of gymnasts.” Lucas, who also chairs the Cape Town Gymnastics Association (CGTA), says they are exploring
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