My experience at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games was unique. Previously I was as a physical therapist in previous games, as well as a support staff member for the research team in Rio 2016. This Olympics was my first participation as an official member of the IOC Medical and Research Team.

This experience allowed to understand much more about the challenge to conduct an epidemiological study with elite athletes. We had a participation of more than 90% of countries participants of the Games, which means that around 3000 athletes were monitored during the Olympics.

Brazilian Bobsled Team

During the last days, I could follow the Brazilian bobsled pilot (Edson Bindilatti is on my left in the photo) during some training sessions and competitions. He was the brakeman of the Brazilian bobsled team in Salt Lake City 2002, and it was our first Olympics participation. At that time, I was the physical therapist of the Brazilian Team. It was a great pleasure to remember our first participation and reflect how our lives have changed during the last 16  years.

I visited the medical department of the Team USA on Monday. In the photo, center, is Alysia Green, team physician at Boston University and Brett Toresdahl, primary care sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.

I discussed future research collaborations with Brett Toresdahl since he is conducting research with recreational runners.

I watched American short-track speed skating athletes during a training session at Gangneung Ice Arena. It was my first time watching this sport. It’s amazing how fast they skating, sometimes more than 30 mph.

I’m with Zuzana Rogers at the Polyclinic. She is a physical therapist of the US Cross-Country team. She talked about her experience working with Olympic cross-country skiers. We talked about future research collaboration.

The opening ceremonies were amazing. It was thrilling to see the two Koreas marching together. The USA Team is in the background of this photo.

Alex Lopes with the USA Team in the background.

I’m working with 9 researchers from 7 different countries.

I traveled on Monday, Feb. 5, from Boston to Seoul, which took about 24 hours. The high-speed train ride from Seoul to PyeongChang took about an hour.

Because we are 14 hours ahead, I’m totally jet-lagged but extremely excited!

The Mountain Cluster Olympic Village is behind me in this photo. It’s where the athletes, coaches and other officials live, meet and come together. We are located no more than 15 minutes by car from where the main events will take place.

It is very cold here, 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit!

This Friday, we will work in a regular base. I am planning to attend the opening ceremony and will post photos.

Alex Lopes in front of the Mountain Cluster Olympic Village in South Korea.

UMass Lowell Assoc. Prof. of Physical Therapy, Alexandre (Alex) Lopes will be a member of the injury and illness surveillance research group in the PyeongChang Olympic Games.

Our research group will employ the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury and illness surveillance system for multi-sport events. We will ask all National Olympic Committee medical teams to report the daily occurrence (or non-occurrence) of injuries and illnesses on a standardized medical report form. Concurrently, we will retrieve the same information on all athletes who will be treated for injuries and illnesses in the polyclinic and all other medical venues by the PyeongChang Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games’ medical staff.

Learn more about Alex:

• Researcher Headed to Winter Olympics
• Ending the ‘No Pain, No Gain’ Myth of Exercise – 10 Questions With Alex Lopes
• Alexandre Lopes’ Faculty Bio

Alex Lopes researched athlete injuries at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as well.