Originally hailing from Coleambally youngster Riley McGown has been given the opportunity to conduct research on behalf of Basketball Australia while studying a masters degree the University of Canberra.
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Mr McGown 22 was awarded his undergraduate degree at the end of 2018 with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and a Bachelor of Sports Management.
After looking around campus for a research topic to base his masters degree on, Mr McGown said he was approached by Basketball Australia who were looking for someone to do strength and conditioning coaching and research for their first ever Olympic three-on-three basketball team.
The team will be competing at the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo which will be see the debut of three-on-three basketball.
The sport has almost exactly the same rules as regular five on five, except is played by teams of three supported by only a single substitute playing on a half court, with games lasting only for 10 minutes.
"We are finding is that the athletes aren't running as much but their heart rates are sky high, a lot shorter sharper movements, my research is focused on a strength and conditioning perspective focused on the demands of the sport so we can train athletes more effectively," Mr McGwon said.
This year Mr McGown said he has also enjoyed coaching high school students attending the Basketaball Australia centre for excellence.
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