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Anyone been called/had an interview to be a Pod on the medical team at the Olympic Games?

 

Hi,

Yes I had my interview back in June & I'm still waiting to hear whether I've been successful or not. It was a very unsatisfactory interview as the interviewer didn't know what a podiatrist did. The interview was more about whether you had the potential to be a good "Gamesmaker" !! Podiatry didn't come into it.

Helen

 

Thanks Helen,
How odd! Is your background in Sports Pod/Biomechanics? What experience do you have?
I'm writing a careers lecture so am hoping to include a section on how specialising in this area can present incredible opportunities (maybe!).

 

My specialism is dancers, particularly ballet dancers. I completed my MSc Dance Science at the beginning of last year & I have been treating dancers this last year. I had hoped that I might offer some experience in treating the barefoot athlete (gymnasts, divers) at the Olympics as they have similar injuries and issues that dancers have ie little can be done for them in the way of orthotics. As an ex-dancer I wanted to specialise in dance podiatry but it's a solitary career path. There aren't that many pods who solely do dancers and dancers themselves are not terribly aware of what pods can do for them. I have recently moved to Brisbane and am awaiting accreditation so I can practise here but there seems to be much more awareness of podiatry amongst dancers here than in the UK. Not sure if I've answered your question but let me know if I can help further. :)

Helen

 

the gamesmaker recruitment process was rather generic, and more to do with attitude and enthusiasm. I know this as I was one of the regional interviewers. I also volunteered, and had an interview as an orthotist, through the medical team route. unfortunately there was a cock up (not mine) with who was recruiting for the medical team, LOCOG or the provider, and I missed out. From what I hear, all the roles on the medial team are filled.

 

Hi Nilsen,
Thanks for your reply, it made my heart sink though. One would think that the Podiatrist on the LOCOG medical committee would have had an input into the selection and interview of candidates. It makes no sense that attitude and enthusiasm would be more important than, or even as important as expertise, specialism and experience. The athletes deserve the best attention should they become injured. Could the Olympics end up with an enthusiastic medical team who have 'all the gear, and no idea' ?

 

Don't take what I have on hearsay for gospel tho. They have definately recruited for the orthotics and prosthetics side, but they are still interviewing till march, and overseas volunteer recruitment runs a little differently.

 

What I really hoped to hear from Pod arena (a hot-bed of expertise and enthusiasm) was that a hit-squad of extremely experienced and specialised Podiatrists (and orthotists) had been recruited. I would have thought that no-one who lacked enthusiasm or some experience in treating athletes would have applied.