The Racquet Athlete Podcast

Catalina Pelaesz

Born in Bogotá, Colombia.

-Started playing squash at 9 years old

-Have played in the Colombian senior team since 2005, age 13/14

-Went to university in the US: Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Majored in Studio Arts, focused in Photography, minored in architectural studies and Italian language.

-Interests: Photography, design, art, architecture travel, hiking, soccer

-Current PSA ranking: 77

-Best PSA ranking: 56

What we chat about on the podcast:

*How squash became a passion

*Transferable skills from other sports 

*Specific developed skills in squash from transferable skills 

*Being open minded with coaches

*Keeping motivated to train fitness aspects

*Staying the course with technical skill development

*Solo practice tips/advice

*Mind training aspects

*What squash players struggle with in scheduling for optimal performance 

*Starting out in the PSA tour

*What would you say to your 18 year old self if you could turn back time

*Toughest aspect to learning to be an all round squash player

*Sacrifices in squash

*Advice for going from junior to pro squash

*Taking the losses with the wins

*Travelling/Recovery

*Meditation

Oktay has worked at the highest level in Tennis in Ireland and the UK, for the last decade. Ranging from schools, clubs university, up too national federations. He was head of physical Preparation at the Irish federation for the last 4 years. Oktay has worked with

○ ATP ranked players (top 100)

○ WTA ranked players (top 100)

○ ITF Junior ranked players (top 40)

○Tennis Europe ranked players (top 100)

○ Irish No.1s in every age group

○ Club & regional programmes aspiring to improve performance at regional and national tournaments

○As well as Tennis, Oktay has worked in professional football, Elite Olympic Weightlifting, and track & field.

He is educated too the highest level, achieving a master’s degree in strength & conditioning from UEL in 2012, as well as being an accredited National Strength and Conditioning Association Coach.

He specialises in specific footwork & shot speed development for tennis. Alongside this he can offer screenings to identity risk factors for movement & tennis strokes, in order to increase shot speed & reduce injury risk. Can do full performance testing too see how you compare too top international players at all ages physically. And can also offer sports massage.

What we talk about on the podcast:

*Passion for Tennis

*Becoming head of a tennis program

*Comparison of strength and conditioning for youth and senior tennis athletes 

*Early Specialisation

*Strength and Conditioning/Skills which can help a tennis athlete get to the next level

*Common injuries in tennis 

*Published Research Study

*Uncommon injuries in tennis 

*Advice for tennis athletes starting a strength and conditioning program

*Toughest aspect for athletes in tennis

*Advice for a tennis athlete to become professional 

*Book recommendations 

*Contact details

Kieran Blay - National level cycling athlete, performance coach and ex F1 Technician. Background surrounds high performance and human performance and the application of technologies in these environments.

KYMIRA - A UK based technology company that innovates in the smart garment space, KYMIRA specialises in combining technology and textiles to create products that save lives and enhance human performance.

What we chat about on the podcast:

Kieran's background/Company Choice

How he met the CEO of Kymira

Golden Nuggets/Holistic Approach

Unique points in the business

Smart technology and how it can help athletes perform better

Athlete Eco System: Prep/Travel/Warm up/Main Performance/Recovery

Elite Team Improvements

Infrared material/minerals

Recovery from injury

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Kymira enhancing human performance

Fatigue levels

Age and percentage differences

Future of Kymira

Contact details

Howard is the Head of Sport Science at Bolton Arena Regional Performance Development Centre, leading a multi-disciplinary team of strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, as well as sports nutrition and psychology support.

Howard has been involved with physical development team at Bolton since 2009. This experience includes working with players across various levels including; national and international juniors, ATP and WTA professionals including former world number one Ana Invanovic. He is an Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach, Certified Tennis Performance Specialist, and a Ba in Sports Coaching, prior to coaching he served six years in the Royal Marines Commandos.

What we chat about on the podcast:

Howard's passion for tennis

Tennis injuries in the youth population

LTAD Model Training

Practitioner support with athletes

Creating a future tennis champion

Tennis in the next 5 years

Tennis athlete/player

Book recommendations/Tools

Social media contact

What we chat about on the podcast:

Andy Allford's background in sport science

Squash and badminton training intensity

Speed training for squash and badminton

Sport Science in the UK and other countries

Athletes high intensity training

Conserving energy in athletes

Prehab/Gym Training 

Injury Prevention

Squash at the English Institute of Sport

Squash Physical Performance Aspects

Athletes and Coaches Evolving

Coach and Athlete Relationship

Becoming the mentor

Duncan Stahl

Current World Ranking : 9 (Sept 2020)

 Best World Ranking: 7 (Aug 2017) 

Sponsor: Karakal

 Winner of Team World Championships with Great Britain in Germany, 2019 Winner of 12x titles on FIR World Tour (2014 – 2019) 40+ World Champion 2018 3x Winner of the British Racketlon Championships: 2013, 2015, 2016 2x Runner up of British Racketlon Championships: 2014 & 2019 Winner of 19 UK Tour titles

Sporting Background: GB Junior Tennis Squad until 13 years old Surrey county junior squash Middlesex League team squash Div.1 (for over 10 years) 

Only started playing Table Tennis and Badminton competitively when I started playing Racketon (aged 33). 

Have spent much more time training these 2 sports than anything else. Racketlon based training for approx. 15 hours a week

What we chat about on the podcast:

Racketlon Talents

Transferable skills in Squash, Badminton and Tennis

Youth development in racquet sports with having variety

Karakal and sponsorship in racquet sports

Solo and Team Events Mindsets

Yearly Plan for Racketlon

Optimum sleep travelling/tournaments 

Tactics of the sports

Age and body management

Basic techniques and footwork from coaching in beginners

Mental challenges of racketlon

Simon Hartley is a globally respected sport psychology consultant and performance coach. For over 20 years, Simon has worked with gold medallists, world record holders, world champions, top five world-ranked professional athletes, Team GB Olympians and championship winning teams.

Since 2011, Simon has published eight books, including Peak Performance Every Time and Stronger Together; How Great Teams Work.

During the last 15 years, Simon has also applied the principles of sport psychology to business, education, healthcare and the charity sector. This has included projects with some of the world’s leading corporations and foremost executives. He is also an international professional speaker, delivering keynotes throughout the world.

You don't want to miss the world class mindset episode!

Garry was previously High-Performance Director for Tennis Ireland for thirteen years from 2006-2019, during this time he was instrumental in the development of Ireland’s  National Tennis Centre. He captained successful campaigns as Irish Davis Cup Captain from 2001-2005 and Irish Federation Captain from 1997-2001.

Garry has the unique experience of personally coaching numerous athletes from the early stages of development to junior grand slam level and from junior grand slam to pro Grand Slam level.

He is currently working with professional players on the pro tour including one player in the WTA top 100. He is regularly a guest speaker at both national and international conferences. Garry is currently completing an MBS in business practice, holds a HDip in Leadership, HDip in Executive Coaching and a HDip in organisational Behaviour.

Piëdro Schweertman was born 5 sept 1983 in The Netherlands. From the age of 4 until14 he did martial arts Judo and Jiu jitsu competitively. At the age of 14 he wanted something else and because of his father playing squash he started playing too.

4 x National Champion of the Netherlands 2017-2018-2019-2020, European Masters Champion 35+ 2019, Winner of 13 international PSA tournaments, Highest PSA World ranking 63, Squash trainer diploma 1-2-3 ,16 years of coaching experience kids and adults. Nr 1 Dutch National Ranking unbroken for 9 years. National coach of Poland, Nr 1 Polish Open Ranking

Haley’s formative years on court took place at the Heights Casino in Brooklyn where she was coached by an exceptional group of former professionals including Julian Wellings, Fiona Geaves and Linda Elriani.

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During her junior career she reached a highest national ranking of #1 U19, was consistently ranked top three in her age group, and was a three time National Finalist.  She represented the United States at three Junior World Championships, helping the team to its first ever second place finish during her final appearance in 2011.  She was the winner of US Squash’s DeRoy Sportsmanship Award presented annually to one male and one female ranked junior who has best represented and demonstrated the principles of fair play and sportsmanship during their junior career.  While competing individually she was a four-time letter winner at Packer Collegiate High School and captained the boys’ team during her senior year.

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Haley spent her collegiate squash career at Harvard University coached by Mike Way. During her four years representing the Crimson, she won three National Championships and three Ivy League Titles, earned three Individual All American honors and served as a captain during both her junior and senior years.  Off the court she majored in Human Evolutionary Biology graduating Cum Laude, and received Academic All Ivy honors.

Haley's playing career was interrupted during her senior year when she suffered a torn ACL followed several months later by a torn meniscus.  While recovery was an arduous journey, her injuries and two resultant knee operations gave her the opportunity to build upon her coaching skills, in both individual, private lessons and school, team practices.

Following this playing hiatus and a successful rehab program, Haley finally embarked upon her professional squash career in the fall of 2016. She eventually plans on going to business school after her playing career.