The Physical Performance Show: Expert Edition: Victor Popov: Lessons from 40 Years in Elite Sport
In episode 369 of The Physical Performance Show, sports physiotherapist Victor Popov shares insights from his four-decade career working with elite athletes across Olympic Games, Tour de France cycling, AFL premiership teams, and international swimming. He recounts his journey from early days in Sydney’s top sports medicine clinics to supporting champions like Robbie McEwen, Susie O’Neill, and Shane Watson, emphasising the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous learning.
This episode delves into the critical role of the nervous system in athletic performance, with Victor Popov explaining how heart rate variability, sleep, nutrition, and even ice baths can be used to assess and optimise recovery and resilience. He introduces his Neural Engagement Therapy and Training (NET) program, designed to help clinicians and athletes better understand and improve nervous system function. Victor Popov also offers practical advice for both aspiring professionals and athletes, highlighting the importance of self-belief, teamwork, and the ability to train consistently without injury.
To listen to Episode 369:
Click the icon to listen to the interview on iTunes or listen using the Soundcloud player below:
Listen in as we delve into the following:
- Victor Popov’s journey through four decades in elite sports physiotherapy
- Working with Olympic athletes, Tour de France cyclists, AFL premiership teams, and international swimmers
- The evolution of multidisciplinary approaches in athlete care
- What sets elite athletes apart: resilience, self-analysis, and the ability to endure
- The critical role of the nervous system in performance and recovery
- Practical ways to assess nervous system health: heart rate variability, orthostatic HRV, and sleep quality
- Tools for optimising recovery: hot/cold exposure, breathing techniques, nutrition, and acupuncture
- The development and application of Neural Engagement Therapy and Training (NET)
- Advice for aspiring professionals: continuous learning, collaboration, and respecting coaches
- The importance of self-belief and training consistently without injury
- Victor’s challenge to listeners: try ice baths, progressing from 90 seconds to 12 minutes for resilience and recovery
