Kim Pham
26 July 2016: For physiotherapist Erin Smyth, travelling to the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the Hockeyroos support staff will be fulfilling a lifelong dream.
"When I was younger I played hockey and we always travelled with a team physiotherapist and she inspired me to take up the profession," she said. "It also set the path for my Olympics goal."
Smyth was initially nominated as the reserve physiotherapist as she had done a number of tours with the Hockeyroos to South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina. She stepped up after the team's full-time physiotherapist returned to the UK in late 2015.
"Fortunately for me, I was asked to take over and I feel extremely proud to take up this role," the 38-year-old said.
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University of Canberra alumna Erin Smyth will be travelling to the Rio Olympics as the physiotherapist to the Hockeyroos. Photo: supplied.
Smyth is looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere of the Rio Games. She has previously attended the Sydney and Athens Olympics as a spectator and worked for the Great Britain team at the Beijing Paralympics and the Australian Rowing team at the London Paralympics.
Her duties will involve working closely with other off-field staff to manage and prevent injuries. On a daily basis she advises on the athletes' training programs and treats injured players. During the competition she will focus on dealing with acute matters.
"It is amazing how many people are working behind the scenes to prepare the athletes. I like to think we play an important role but it's definitely the athletes who are the stars of the show," she said.
"In my job, I need to do everything I can to ensure the athletes are fit and healthy."
Originally from Townsville, Smyth completed her undergraduate degree in physiotherapy in Queensland before moving to Canberra to work at the Canberra Hospital and the Australian Institute of Sport. She completed a Graduate Diploma of Extended Scope Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra in 2013.
Smyth believes her experience as a hockey player helps her understand how to treat the athletes.
"I think my background as a high-level hockey player has been extremely useful in understanding the requirements of the sport and to earn a certain respect from the athletes. It also helps with my ball collection duties during training and warm ups," she joked.
The Rio Olympics start on 5 August.
Read more about our UC Olympic Games and Paralympic Games representatives:
Gracie gears up for Olympic debut
