What We Do
The UK Athletics Sports, Exercise & Medicine Team provides world-leading medical, physiotherapy, performance, and rehabilitation support to athletes across the national pathway, from emerging talent to elite podium performers. Our goal is simple: to help athletes stay healthy, train consistently, and perform at their best on the world stage.
We deliver a proactive, integrated, and athlete-centred model of care, combining evidence-based sports medicine with cutting-edge performance science. Our services include:
- Sports Medicine Injury Management
- Physiotherapy
- Injury Management
- Rehabilitation
- Performance Therapy
- Recovery Strategies
- Mental Wellbeing Services
The Team
George Polglass: Head of Therapy and Medicine. Responsible for leading and coordinating all medicine and therapy service provision across UK Athletics. Oversees multidisciplinary teams, ensures aligned clinical pathways, and supports the delivery of integrated medical, physiotherapy, and performance therapy services to elite and pathway athletes.
James Brown: Leads the national medical strategy, oversees athlete care pathways, and ensures world-class clinical governance across the performance system.
Jill Neale: Lead doctor for the Paralympic team. Oversees the medical strategy for Paralympic athletes and ensures world-class clinical governance across the Paralympic performance system.
Bobby Sourbuts: Leads the therapy services and specialises in musculoskeletal assessment, rehabilitation planning, and return-to-competition management for elite athletes.
Laura Heathcotte: Leads the Paralympic therapy service and specialises in musculoskeletal assessment, rehabilitation planning, and return-to-competition management for elite Paralympic athletes.
Rebecca Knight: Leads the pathway and futures therapy service and specialises in musculoskeletal assessment, rehabilitation planning, and return-to-competition management for elite athletes.
James Hedger: Provides hands-on therapy, recovery planning, and integrated support for training camps and international competitions.
Nadia Benallal: Oversees the day-to-day coordination of medical operations, manages clinical scheduling, supports service governance, and acts as a key liaison between practitioners, athletes, and performance teams.
Emily Crisp: Provides essential administrative support to the medical and therapy teams, maintaining accurate records, assisting with appointment management, and supporting the smooth running of clinical services.