Derek Mansfields was one of the touring physios for the Australian Men’s Volleyball program between 2003 and 2013. In that capacity I was looking after them when they went away on tour – they had physios back at their training base that they used. This particular photo was in Argentina last year, in a leadup tournament to the World Champs in Brazil.
I got to attend two World Championships – Under-19 in Thailand in 2003, and the Under-23s in Brazil in 2013. I also went to one Senior Asian Men’s Cup in Japan in 2007 and one Asian Junior (Under-21) Championship in Qatar in 2004. Other trips were preparation tours where the team was getting international match practice in the lead-up to a major competition. They included Europe, North & South America, Asia & the Middle East… I have nearly 60 internationals under my belt. Common conditions treated during this time included shoulder, back and knee injuries, typically overuse from the demanding 12 months-a-year schedule.
It was a great experience and I’m grateful to have done something that very few physios get the opportunity to do.