In this episode of the SASMA Podcast, host Kyle Winik speaks with Prof. Martin Schwellnus — a global authority in Sport and Exercise Medicine, Director of the IOC Research Center in South Africa, and President of the College of Sport and Exercise Medicine SA.

They explore the evolution of sport and exercise medicine in South Africa — from its academic beginnings at UCT in the early 1990s to the specialty’s official recognition in 2020. Prof. Schwellnus shares his insights on the College’s role in athlete care, its broader impact on fighting non-communicable diseases through exercise prescription, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.

Importantly, the conversation looks ahead to the College of Sport and Exercise Medicine’s upcoming conference this October in Johannesburg, where experts and practitioners will gather to discuss advances in athlete health, chronic disease prevention, and the future of the specialty in South Africa.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in how sport and exercise medicine is shaping both elite performance and public health.