News & Updates

As a national 100m bronze medallist and one quarter of New Zealand’s record-breaking 4x100m team in Mackay last month, Livvy Wilson is one of the country’s pre-eminent female sprinters.

Yet what some observers may be unaware of is the 29-year-old Aucklander is also physiotherapist to the likes of national 100m and 400m hurdles record-holders, Zoe Hobbs and Portia Bing, and her healing hands have been acknowledged after earning an invite to serve as New Zealand team physio at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia next month (Aug 1-6).

“After nationals (New Zealand Track & Field Championships) I was posed the question, would I be interested in going to Cali and I replied, ‘yes, absolutely’,” explains Livvy. “It is perfect timing for me now the (domestic) athletics season has finished. I am so grateful and so excited to be given such an amazing opportunity.”

Based on Auckland’s North Shore, Livvy took up athletics at the age of 15 before opting to study physiotherapy at university. Interested in the thought of helping people within sport and holding a keen interest in the human body propelled her into her chosen profession, and it has not a move she has regretted.

“Becoming a physio was the best decision I ever made, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” explains Livvy, who after graduating from university took up a position at Sports Lab, who she still works for today.

Dealing chiefly with sports injuries to those in both the recreational and elite sphere she built up a wealth of experience. However, one line she always felt uncomfortable crossing was treating family and friends.

Nonetheless, after several athletes approached her three years ago to ask if Livvy could treat them, she changed her philosophy following a re-think.

“I wasn’t sure because some (of the athletes should be treating) were friends and competitors, but when I thought about it, I also wanted to help them be injury-free,” explains Livvy. “I was intrigued and thought, I can make this work so long as some boundaries are in place, so I started treating Portia and Zoe three years ago.

“I have to be quite strict training at the track. I’m there to train as an athlete and I don’t want the athletes I treat to think I’m checking up on whether they are doing their pre-hab exercises or how they are moving. I’m Libby the athlete at the track, although outside of the track they can contact or message me about any physio needs.

“But I have no complaints, the physio-athlete relationship has gone fantastically well and because they are friends outside of the physio room that’s what makes the treatment so enjoyable, I want to see my friends and competitors succeed.”

Over the past three years the group of athletes she treats has expanded to eight athletes – including New Zealand women’s 400m silver medallist Izzy Neal and 2021 national senior men’s 400m champion Hamish Gill – and she insists her background as an athlete has several advantages.

“I can draw on my own injury experiences, which can help me connect with the athletes on a deeper level because I may have experienced the physical pain they might be going through,” adds Livvy who works out of the Sports Lab clinic in Rosedale which is a short drive from the AUT Millennium track.

“From my experience I also know that closer to competition niggles can start to pop up and anxiety can grow within an athlete. Being able to relate to them enables me to give them good advice and the best treatment possible.”

One the flipside too, Livvy says her background as a physio has acted as a positive support to her personal athletics ambitions.

“When I am at the track, I need to make sure I’m doing the rehab training exercises. My being athlete as well as a physio it has kept me accountable.”

Now Livvy has been given the chance to broaden her physiotherapy experiences as part of a major international team in Cali, and she cannot wait to get stuck into the role. One of the five-strong New Zealand management squad she will also be asked to fulfil a number of other roles, which may include the challenge of driving on the righthand side of the road in Miami. However, fundamentally Livvy’s role will be to serve as a physio to the 13 New Zealand athletes competing in Colombia.

“I am so excited to be given the chance to assist the next generation of athletes coming through,” she explains. “Some are ranked as high as third in the world and to be able to support them at big international competitions and help them out not only physically but also emotionally and mentally is such an honour. I’m most looking forward to being able to share in their experiences.”