Wendy Martinson, OBE, lead nutritionist for the GB Rowing Team Artwork

Girl on the River

Patricia Carswell, aka Girl on the River, loves to row and loves to talk, so it makes sense that in her podcast she'll be chatting to guests from all around the rowing and sporting world about anything and everything to do with rowing. Always informal, occasionally silly, sometimes serious, often informative, she delves into questions such as how athletes become champions, how to promote diversity in sport, the secret to staying alive on an ocean, how to improve your erg score and what to do to keep your body and mind in one piece. Her guests include Olympians, health experts, Atlantic rowers, kit companies, indoor rowers, TV presenters - in short, anyone with something to say about rowing and its place in the world. The podcast isn't just about Girl on the River and her guests, though. Community is everything in rowing, so you, the listener, are an important part of the show. There'll be regular Q&As and listener debates, and if you have suggestions for fantastic guests, she's all ears. Patricia can be contacted at girlontheriverpodcast@gmail.com or on social media at @girlontheriver on all channels - come and have a chat .And until then... next stroke, easy oar.

All Episodes

Girl on the River

Wendy Martinson, OBE, lead nutritionist for the GB Rowing Team

July 28, 2021 • Patricia Carswell • Season 2 • Episode 6

S2, Ep. 6 In all the excitement of the Tokyo Olympics, it's easy to forget about the team supporting the athletes. Behind every medal and record and personal best, there's a huge network of people making sure the athlete performs at their best. Which is why I was so delighted to talk to this week's guest - Wendy Martinson, OBE - who is the lead nutritionist for the GB Rowing Team.

Having started her career in the NHS, Wendy soon moved into sports nutrition and has worked with athletes across a number of disciplines including gymnastics, hockey and ballet. At the time of recording, Wendy is out in Tokyo with the rowing team, where she has to make sure each athlete is properly fuelled for each race.

In our interview we discuss:

How Wendy got involved in sport nutrition
The different demands of individual sports and rowing in particular
The support that coxswains get to manage their weight
What Wendy's role with the GB Rowing Team involves day to day
Meeting the nutritional needs of rowers and lightweights
Nutrition for injury and Wendy's work at Bisham Abbey rehab unit
Catering arrangements at the Olympics - or "performance dining"
Race day nutrition

Wendy also asked some questions from listeners:

What's the first sign that something's not quite right with someone's nutrition?
Refuelling after training
Supplements - using them strategically
Vegetarian and vegan diets
Screening athletes for deficiencies
The differences between male and female nutritional needs
Changing nutritional needs as you grow older
Plant based milks - what to look for on the label
Whether there are any taboo foods
Alcohol - OK for athletes?
Time restricted eating (intermittent fasting) and fasted training - whether they can be beneficial
Fuelling for long endurance events
Wendy's signature dish and favourite food and drink

Resources
Books:
Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food
Anita Bean's cookery books and books on sports nutrition (including for vegetarians)
Performance nutrition by Kevin Currell
Food websites:
BBC Food website