Fitness First has kicked off the countdown to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by working with Team GB to launch a new Sports Profiler Tool at its flagship gym in Bishopsgate, London.

The tool has been specifically designed to help people find new sports to try out and receive Olympic-level training advice from Team GB. The tool matches people to the Olympic sport they’re most suited to, based on their speed, stamina, strength, power and agility.

Based on findings that the majority of people in the UK train for just four disciplines that feature at the Olympics – cycling, football, swimming and running – the initiative is designed to engage members with the full 28 Summer Olympic sports.

There is even hope that sifting through untapped potential could lead to the discovery of future Olympic medal prospects. One example of this is Helen Glover, who won gold in the Women’s Coxless Pairs at London 2012. Originally a runner and hockey player, Glover was identified as a potential rower via a talent identification scheme.



“The tool is a similar concept to the way I first got into rowing having never thought about trying the sport before,” said Glover.

“It’s great for people who are really interested in trying something new because you never know what it’s going to suggest – it could be a sport that you already know and love, one that you’re good at, or a sport that you have this whole new lifestyle through.”

Collaborations between Fitness First and Team GB began last year with the launch of a Pro-Athlete class, and the latest initiative is designed to encourage people to try out sports they’ve never participated in before. Users can download unique training plans devised by Team GB and Fitness First trainers, as well as a free pass to their local Fitness First gym.

Team GB and Fitness First will also bring the training tools and techniques used by Team GB athletes to the public via a series of in-club workshops, led by experienced Team GB and English Institute of Sport (EIS) coaches.