Olympic champ leads elite sport science showcase at home of Cricket

Britain’s BMX Olympic champion joined world-leading researchers and elite sports teams for a showcase exploring how cutting-edge sport science is driving performance at the highest level.

The Innovation in Sport event brought together professional clubs, researchers and practitioners at Lord’s Cricket Ground to explore how collaboration with the University of Essex is boosting performance in professional sport.

Beth Shriever, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, hosted the event and reflected on the role science-led training played in her success.

The Team GB cyclist said: "It was my first time hosting at a conference before and I thoroughly enjoyed every second.

"Each speaker came out with some amazing presentations, showcasing how innovation raises the bar in the sport they work in.

"It was great to also hear some real-life stories where innovation has helped to improve the odds of success.

"It was very inspiring and made me think of ways I could help innovate my sport in the future."

The three-time world and two-time European champion was joined on stage by Dr Benjamin Rosenblatt, former lead men’s physical performance coach for the FA and founder of performance consultancy 292.

The event featured contributions from Middlesex County Cricket Club and Queens Park Rangers, alongside academics from the University’s School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES).

These clubs, along with Essex County Cricket Club, are working in partnership with the University by embedding PhD researchers within their organisations to tackle on-field performance challenges and apply the latest scientific insights in real time.

Alongside presentations, representatives from professional clubs and industry organisations attended demonstrations led by Essex academics, showcasing applied research across performance, physiology and training environments.

The event was organised by Dr Jamie Tallent, Director of Research at SRES, to strengthen links between academia and the sports industry, explore funding opportunities and develop new collaborative partnerships focused on innovation in athletic performance.

Dr Tallent said: "This event was a great opportunity to showcase the breadth of expertise we have at Essex and the impact that can be achieved when universities, clubs and industry partners work together.

"It was particularly pleasing to see so many existing and potential partners in the room, all interested in how research can support innovation in performance sport."

Innovation in Sport was delivered in collaboration with the University’s Business Engagement Team, which has helped Essex achieve the highest number of active Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in Britain.

These partnerships enable organisations to work directly with academic experts to apply research, drive innovation and accelerate performance improvements.

Rob Walker, Deputy Director of Enterprise, said: "Events like this show the real appetite across sport to do things differently and we’re ready to match that ambition.

"At Essex, we’re actively looking to partner with forward-thinking clubs who want to innovate, move faster, and gain a competitive edge through collaboration.

"Our strength is in how we bring disciplines together - combining over 700 experts from sport science to AI with our wider expertise, to deliver practical solutions that make a measurable difference to performance. If you’re serious about innovation, we’re ready to work with you."