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Post Olympics Wrap-Up

8/17/2021

How I assisted athletes

My main role was to address aches, pains and minor injuries with manual therapy before the competition. This included: massage, cupping, active release, and myofascial compression.

Some athletes like Caeleb Dressel liked to have work done after competition to speed up the recovery process.

How I became an Olympic PT

This was my goal when I decided to pursue a career in physical therapy. During my schooling, I hooked up with a sports medicine network volunteering at local USA Swim Meets. Then I was able to get a USA Swimming Sports Medicine and Science Internship. This opened the doors for me to assist at national competitions. I worked my way up to being selected to attend the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Training Camps. Tokyo was my first on-site Olympics experience as a physical therapist. I had such a great time. It was such a pleasure and an honor to work on the USA Olympic Swimming Team.

Sharing the joys of victory with these amazing athletes, shown here with Allison Schmitt and Katie Ledecky, put me on an emotional high.

What inspired me

This Olympic Team had 11 teenagers on it. The amount of time and dedication to pursuing their swimming goals was amazing, Take Bella Sims - a 16-year-old. She regularly practiced from 3:30-5:30am and 3:00-4:30pm daily. Every other day the afternoon practice was followed with an hour of weigh training. How she had the energy to also attend school is beyond me.

Listen Here

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What's on the Pool Deck?

7/21/2021

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Ice Baths Galore

Almost every country has brought a baby-type pool so that their athletes can have an ice water soak after working out. Some are for one person, some for multiple people. It's crazy crowded! There is even an ice vendor on deck.

Here I am dumping more ice in the bath. Some of the guys have towels around their necks to keep the ice water off. Ice not only functions as an anti-inflammatory, but also flushes off the waste products from metabolism once the body re-warms. Read about other ice bath benefits.

The ice vendor with her portable freezer.

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Tokyo Olympic Village

6/17/2021

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Housing

Located in the Harumi district, the 2021 Olympic Village will house 18,000 athletes and support staff. The residents must share rooms as there are only 3,800 apartments, each with their own bathrooms.
Team USA gets its own 14-floor building with 3 elevators. If you need to do laundry, you must go to building 15. Good thing swimmers don't get too dirty in the pool!

Olympic Village Bathrooms

The most unique aspect of the room is the toilet. Before seating, you may want to set the toilet seat temperature. Perhaps you like to listen to relaxing music that masks your bodily function sounds or maybe you fancy a buttocks massage? After voiding your waste, you may consider a rinse. Set the water temperature. Then decide if you want a front (bidet) or rear (spray) wash. Water pressure settings may also be available to adjust to your desired amount of cleanliness. Lastly, toilet paper is available for your finishing touches.

Actual washlet controls are shown above.

Here's What the Rooms Look Like

Tokyo Aquatic Center

Look inside.

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Highlights from the 2021 Olympic Training Camp in Hawaii

6/14/2021

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Team Captains

Watch as the USA Olympic swimming team listens to the announcement of team captains: Simone Emmanuel, Caeleb Dressel, Alllison Schmitt, and Ryan Murphy.
If you look along the back wall, you will see yours truly standing.

Media Day at Punahou School - July 8, 2021

With a captive audience of students and media, the USA Olympic Swim Team demonstrated their speed and expert technique. Team captains gave motivational speeches and answered questions. Later the team was given kukui nut leis, which symbolize light or enlightenment. Hopefully, the team learned how to minimize their weaknesses during their time in Hawaii.

Training Camp Facility

The team is training at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Center located at the University of Hawaii - Oahu campus.

I am part of the team!

Here I am, smiling ear to ear. So excited to be part of this team. When I started my studies to become a physical therapist, this was my end goal.
Thanks to everyone who supported me and especially my family. I wouldn’t be here without you!

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Packing for Tokyo

6/7/2021

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Tokyo Climate

Summer in Tokyo is hot and humid.
Average Humidity in July: 78 - 83%
Average Temperature in July: 84 degrees F
Average Rain: 6.2 inches

Compare this to Chicago:
Average Humidity in July: 71%
Average Temperature in July: 84 degrees F
Average Rain: 3.4 inches

Pocket WiFi

You must get a router at the airport if you want to use your mobile phone. Tokyo uses different frequencies, so your US mobile phone will not work. You will need Google maps to navigate, so don't forget to pick this up at the airport. They will be next to impossible to find elsewhere.

Personal Physical Therapy Tools

Suction Cups
Foam roller
Therabands
Myofascial blade
Electric Muscle Stimulator
Goniometer
Gua Sha Scraping Tools
Ultrasound machine
Stretch Cords

Helpful Phrases

Hello: Konnichiwa
Thank you: Arigatou Gozaimasu
Excuse me: Sumimasen
I want to go to: Ikitai
Where is...?: Doko Desu Ka?
Alcohol: Sake
Sake: Nihonshu

Highly Recommended

Arigato Food Tours, Tea Ceremony, and bathing in an Onsen.

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Brian's Blog

Post Olympics Wrap-Up

How I assisted athletes

How I became an Olympic PT

What inspired me

What's on the Pool Deck?

Ice Baths Galore

Tokyo Olympic Village

Housing

Olympic Village Bathrooms

Actual washlet controls are shown above.

Here's What the Rooms Look Like

Tokyo Aquatic Center

Highlights from the 2021 Olympic Training Camp in Hawaii

Team Captains

Media Day at Punahou School - July 8, 2021

Training Camp Facility

I am part of the team!

Packing for Tokyo

Tokyo Climate

Pocket WiFi

Personal Physical Therapy Tools

Helpful Phrases

Highly Recommended

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