High performance sports: what is it and how do these athletes live?
At SLAM International we are very aware that the practice of sports is an indispensable complement in first level educational models. And we are also aware that there are students who, because of their personality or physical abilities, are more predisposed to practice high performance sports.
But what exactly is high performance sport? How can SLAM International help the high performance or amateur athlete to develop athletically while studying in Spain?
What is high performance sport and its characteristics?
In short, it is sport taken to its highest level of development. The high performance athlete is part of an elite. Only those who are far above the average level of other athletes can reach this elite. And this can only be achieved through:
- Exclusive dedication to training.
- Perseverance.
- The desire to excel.
- Non-conformism.
- The deep knowledge of the sport discipline.
In this sense, SLAM is one of the sports training centers in Spain with one of the highest levels of athlete preparation. It is fully professionalized and is directed and monitored by highly specialized coaches. The objective is to prepare the athlete to compete at the highest level. Before dedicating himself exclusively to training, the athlete has to pass a previous phase in which he will combine study and training.
Another great option for students who are particularly interested in sports is to obtain a higher degree that qualifies them to work as coaches of high-performance athletes.
What is the life of a high performance athlete?
The life of an athlete or high-level sportsman or sportswoman is hard and is marked by discipline and self-control. The high-performance athlete must sacrifice and give up other activities to dedicate that time to training. In addition, they must follow a rigorous nutritional plan to the letter. By way of description, this is the typical daily routine of a high-level athlete:
Protein and energy breakfast
Breakfast should be high in protein and carbohydrates to ensure proper muscle nutrition during subsequent training and to prevent possible hypoglycemia. A typical breakfast is a couple of boiled eggs, whole wheat bread, pasta, a couple of bananas and an orange juice.
Morning training
The morning training is held at the high performance sports center and must always be led by a professional coach. It is not a long training session, but a session that lasts about two hours.
Midday meal
In addition to paying special attention to carbohydrates and proteins, healthy and unsaturated fats should be included in the meal. Hydration is also essential, in order to replenish fluids lost during the morning training session.
A typical menu would consist of grilled lean meat, salmon fillets, scrambled eggs, boiled potato and whole wheat bread.
It may seem like a lot of food, but high-performance athletes have nutritional needs that can double or even triple those of a sedentary person.
Evening training
After a short nap, and under the coach’s orders, the athlete will perform the corresponding afternoon training routines.
The afternoon training session is longer and can last up to four hours, with a break for rest in which the professional athlete replenishes his strength and enjoys a minimal snack, but whose nutritional content is very energetic.
Dinner
At dinner, the pattern of the midday meal is repeated: lots of protein, lots of carbohydrate and lots of hydration. For example, a typical dinner might include chicken or fish and a considerable amount of pasta.
An elite athlete’s day is complemented by a long night’s rest, between 9 and 10 hours.
There is also time for leisure
We add that not everything is sacrifice. These routines are followed for six days a week. A free afternoon can be added to the weekly rest day. The athlete is free to enjoy his leisure days at will, with the exception of food. The athlete may not exceed the intake of alcoholic beverages.
Finally, we would like to remind you that the positive values of sport, both high performance and amateur, are an essential part of SLAM International‘s educational philosophy.
In this sense, we have sports training centers in Spain of the highest level, where students can develop their sports skills in virtually any discipline, including golf, soccer, tennis, sailing, swimming, basketball or swimming.
In short, it doesn’t matter if the student wishes to become an athlete and practice high performance sports, to develop personally through sport or to practice it for purely recreational purposes: at SLAM International we are able to provide personalized training programs, adapted to their needs and preferences, and the best facilities and sports instructors.