Ben Bidois

After playing every sport he could through primary and high school, Ben Bidois developed an interest in biomechanics and how the human body moves.

It was only natural that he would enrol in a Bachelor of Sport and Human Performance when the time came to start at university.

A tour of the University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance in Mount Maunganui solidified his decision to choose Waikato initially, but it was the relationships he formed and the different opportunities he was offered within the Division of Health that brought Ben back for a Master of Health, Sport and Human Performance after his bachelor’s was completed.

“My master’s supervisor, Dr Kim Hebert-Losier, was focusing on running within a research project, so I was really interested in working with her on that.”

In addition to his master’s investigating the influence of calf muscle fatigue on how well athletes would respond to ‘super shoes’, Ben also worked as a research assistant on projects looking at stroke rehabilitation and safer falling methods for the elderly. The combination not only opened his eyes to the range of different projects available under the sport umbrella, but has helped to feed into his performance as a national champion middle- and long-distance runner.

I’ve picked up things like structuring training programmes and running in heat and humidity that I can put into practice now. 

While juggling competitive sport and postgraduate study can be challenging, he says the benefit of studying in the School of Sport and Human Movement is the encouragement and support you receive for any extra-curricular activities or competitions. 

“Staff are really invested in how you’re doing. Communicate with your supervisors and lecturers; even the Head of School is open to finding solutions and setting you up for success.”