Sport rehabilitation student — Cara Loates

Discover how Cara's passion for sport led to her becoming a biathlete and why she chose to study the BSc Sport Rehabilitation at the University of Bolton

Why did you decide to pursue this course at this university?

I have always had a passion for sport and knew from a young age that I wanted to go to the Olympics, whether it be as an athlete or as part of a medical support team.

The sports science aspect of elite sport has always interested me because the human body is amazing and always continues to surpass my expectations. Similarly, sport rehabilitation is a fast developing subject, especially as rehabbing athletes as efficiently as possible so they can return to optimal performance in the shortest space of time is becoming the difference between winning and losing.

I really like the atmosphere at the University of Bolton and their student first approach. I wanted a university where you know all your lecturers and classmates instead of just a massive lecture hall. The facilities are amazing too, so we are constantly exposed to anti-gravity treadmills, hydrostatic weighing tanks and 360 degree biomechanical analysis technology, to name a few. Plus, the university has a 50-foot climbing wall.

How is the course structured and assessed?

Throughout the three-year course we are assessed via a mixture of practical exams and written coursework for a variety of modules ranging from biomechanics to psychology.

In the first year, you learn the foundation knowledge for the whole degree, mainly focusing around anatomy and physiology (essentially learning every muscle, ligament and tendon in the body).

The second year changes focus to applying the base knowledge to be able to assess and treat injuries while gaining work placements with the general public.

Finally, in the third year, you complete the majority of your 400 placement hours at various grassroot and elite sports clubs as well as clinic settings, plus you're involved with writing your dissertations.

What is a biathlete? What made you decide to compete in a biathlon?

Biathlon is a Winter Olympic sport that combines two disciplines; cross country skiing and target shooting. I have to ski at maximum intensity with a rifle on my back and then enter the range to shoot at five targets smaller than a tennis ball at 50 metres away. Each missed shot results in a penalty, which ultimately adds to the length I must ski, and some races are 15 kilometres long.

It's said to be one of the world's most challenging sports both physically and mentally, and that's what I love about it. I originally saw an advert on Facebook advertising the British Biathlon Talent ID Campaign and thought 'I've never skied or shot a rifle before but I'll give it a go'. Two years later and I've completed my first international season representing Great Britain at numerous events including the World Junior Championships and the World Winter University Games.

How are you funding your sporting activities?

Unfortunately, there's no Sport England or UK Sport funding for biathlon, so I rely on a mixture of working, finding sponsorship, my student loan and as a last resort, the bank of mum and dad.

I try to be as self-sufficient as possible, but being a student athlete comes with sacrifices and so I decided to live at home throughout university to save money on accommodation, food and travel. Another way of being smart with money is cycling everywhere I possibly can, which doubles up as training too.

What challenges have you faced while studying for this degree?

The biggest challenge is time. Unfortunately, there really are only 24 hours in a day and balancing studying, training, competing, working and having some resemblance of a social life is definitely a juggling act. Also, having chosen a practical degree, it can be a struggle finding willing volunteers to practise taping ankles or assessing shoulders, for example. There's never a shortage of volunteers to practise massage though.

What support have you received?

The university and especially the sport rehabilitation department has been fabulous. All the lecturers are more than happy to support me while I'm away competing through resources, catch-up Zooms and answering my endless questions. They've even allowed me to do a presentation from America, while the university funded me to compete at the World Winter University Games.

Briefly tell us about your plans for graduation and your career ambitions.

After graduating, I would like to study a part-time postgraduate Masters in physiotherapy while continuing to compete internationally. At some point I would love to take a gap year to solely focus on my training, to take my performance to the next level.

My long-term career ambition is to work for a professional sports team and to have a positive impact on their players and performance levels.

What tips would you give to others thinking about going to university?

• Do what's right for you - if you like the course, feel comfortable at the university and are happy with your choices then you'll have a blast.
• Think about your future goal or career and work backwards - it can be daunting thinking about where you want to be and where you are now, but there's plenty of support to help you take the right steps to get closer to your dream career.
• Do your research - if you're all clued up then it takes away the guesswork and the stress involved.
• There are so many options, there's bound to be one that's right for you - big lecture halls or small groups, living on campus or living at home, ancient Greek or astronomy, staying local or getting as far away from your parents as possible. There will be a university out there that suits you.

Find out more

• Discover the range of sports graduate jobs.
• Read about getting into university.
• Explore BSc Sport Rehabilitation at the University of Bolton.