UoG sports performance expertise helps Team GB athlete prepare for world championships
A Team GB athlete has turned to sports science experts at University of Gloucestershire to prepare for the extreme heat and humidity of the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Adam Blackmore, who has been selected to represent Great Britain in the sprint duathlon event on 14 November, completed specialist heat acclimation testing in the University’s environmental chamber.
Adam, a University employee, completed a one-hour cycling session in temperatures of 30°C before undertaking a race-pace treadmill run. The testing provided valuable insights into hydration requirements, heat strain and the potential benefits of further heat acclimation ahead of the championships.
The chamber enabled researchers to assess how Adam’s body responds to exercising in temperatures and humidity levels similar to those expected at the World Championships.
An analysis of Adam’s results enabled the team to make recommendations about race wear, managing hydration and acclimatising to conditions ahead of the competition, all helping to support his performance at the event.
Adam is facing a 5k run, 20k bike leg and 2.5km run against the best athletes in the world in his age group at the championships, where daytime temperatures could reach 34°C.
Adam, Marketing and Campaigns Officer at the University, said: “Representing Great Britain at a world championship is a huge honour and I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity.
“I’m extremely excited to be competing in Abu Dhabi, but I’m under absolutely no illusions that the hot and humid conditions are going to make it tough.
“Having access to the University’s expertise and facilities has been invaluable in helping me understand how my body responds to exercising in the heat and what I can do to prepare as effectively as possible for race day.”
The work was led by Dr Simon de Waal, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise, who used the session to demonstrate how sports science can be applied to support athletic performance in demanding environments.
Dr de Waal said: “Competing in Abu Dhabi presents a very different challenge to racing in the UK, with athletes needing to manage the impact of heat and humidity as well as the physical demands of competition.
“Our environmental chamber allowed us to assess Adam’s responses to exercising in the heat and provide evidence-based recommendations to help him prepare for competing on the world stage.
“We wish Adam all the best for his upcoming race at the world championships, the hard work has already been done and the honour of being selected to represent his country is one that we know he will carry with great pride.”
The session involved students from Cirencester College, who were invited to observe, help collect and analyse the physiological data collected during the test. The visit formed part of the University’s outreach programme, helping students explore topics including hydration and exercise performance in challenging conditions.
Dr de Waal said: “It’s a great example of how the University’s facilities and expertise can support athletes while also providing opportunities to engage students and connect young people with the real-world application of sport and exercise science.”
Main image: Adam Blackmore being put through his paces