Newly appointed lecturer Flo Pietzsch from the Lawn Tennis Association
Flo Pietzsch has been recently appointed as Senior Lecturer in sport coaching and sport science at the University of Brighton. Flo moved to lecturing from his previous job at the Lawn Tennis Association as the strength and conditioning coach for the elite tennis players including Heather Watson and Laura Robson.
Flo said “Having studied here as an undergrad in sports science (96-99) I went on to support Joan Williams with her hockey modules whilst starting to work under Rob Harley in the relatively new sports science consultancy. As the role developed from one day a week to a full time post I started to truly begin my career pathway into Strength and Conditioning and sports science support.”
“In 2004 I completed my Masters at the University, and soon after helped bring in the contract to work with the English Institute of Sport and their world class athletes. This experience eventually propelled me towards a role within British Tennis where I stayed and worked within the performance team for five and a half years. I was lucky enough to work with the very best of the British girls where I even travelled around the globe on the WTA tour following the sun right through the year much to the disgust of my friends and family!”
“However there comes a point in time where you reflect and look to see where life will take you next and I felt that remaining as a full time practising coach was not going to be the answer. Therefore when the sports coaching lecturing post was advertised I knew straight away that this would be something I wanted to do. Its great to be back here again and I’m pleased to say I’ve been really enjoying my first few months of teaching, lecture preparation and even marking! The role of the lecturer for me allows so much personal development in knowledge, research and also offers great interaction with likeminded individuals.”
Watch Flo warming up with British tennis number three, Heather Watson.
Kerry Burnett • 03/03/2014