'Lab' helps build better athletes

Toowoomba gym aims to stop loss of athletes to bigger cities

HIGH PERFORMANCE: Technology plays a key role in measuring and developing athletic development, according to The Fit Lab high performance coach Steve Nance (left) and fitness manager and high performance coach Corey Wolsk. Picture: Kevin Farmer

THE "drain” of regional athletic talent to larger metropolitan centres has never sat well with Chris Hillman.

Now Hillman, who co-owns The Fit Lab with brother Steve, is actively working to stem that flow.

The Toowoomba health and fitness centre's High Performance Unit provides functional training programs for more than 400 athletes.

"It's always been my mission to be more than just a gym,” Hillman said.

"Our sponsored athletes program is part of that mission.

"It's about creating pathways for everyone from the emerging young talents to the seasoned athletes.

"We want to slow down that flow of athletes leaving for places like Brisbane.

"At the same time, we also want to build up the region's junior base - you can't have strong senior competitions and teams without good juniors.”

Headlined by Steve Nance, the HPU provides individualised programing for athletes, school teams and states sides such as SWQ Thunder and Western Mustangs.

"We're very fortunate to have someone like Steve on board,” Hillman said.

"He has done it all from the grass-roots level right through to working with teams like the North Queensland Cowboys, Wallabies and Fulham in the English Premier League.”

Nance said a lot had changed during his time in the industry.

"The key performance indicator used to be strength,” Nance said.

"It was about putting on muscle and how much you could lift.

"Now it's a lot more scientific - it's about power output, measurable outcomes and functional movement.”

Athletic development aside Nance also takes great pleasure from the other aspects of his role.

"I started at the grass-roots level just like everywhere else and worked my way up,” he said.

"Even when I was working with the Wallabies, their gym was a tiny little space full of second-hand gear.

"Now I'm working with a great young team of strength and conditioning coaches in a facility that professional clubs would be envious of.

"I love being able to mentor young (strength and conditioning) coaches and the multi-faceted programs here like the work Fit Lab does with cancer sufferers.”

The Fit Lab fitness manager and high performance coach Corey Wolski is member of the team Nance works alongside.

"I really enjoy the role,” Wolski said. "Working with the athletes - testing, collating data and measuring their progress - is fantastic.

"There's a lot of variety to what we do. You can't even program for a sport any more.

"When we do our programming we factor in age, position, health, fitness, all manner of other things. It's very individualised.

"Having someone like Steve (Nance) on board is great too.”

Originally published as 'Lab' helps build better athletes