Greg Cox
Position: Senior Sports Dietitian, Australian Institute of Sport.
Lives: Currently living in Brisbane working remotely for the AIS.
Favourite food: That's a hard one. It's a three way tie between mango, Nestle Peppermint Dark Chocolate and a Veggie Burger from The Magic Apple.
Favourite sport: Surfing and Triathlon
Briefly tell us about yourself. How did you become a sports dietitian? While completing an exercise physiology degree I got interested in the area of sports nutrition. My Dad was a super athlete and health nut - so it was the combination of these factors that planted a seed in my head with regards to working in the sports nutrition industry.
What other areas of dietetics are you interested in? I have always enjoyed community outpatient education particularly in the area of diabetes. Getting people active and eating healthier is a real passion for me.
Why did you become involved with SDA? SDA is the national body for dietitians with a sports nutrition interest and focus. It's the leading organisation in Australia with regards to sports nutrition - so it's an obvious choice to be involved.
Do you participate in any sport yourself? Yes - I surf as much as I can, I race triathlon events and stay active chasing my children about. I don’t race triathlon often these days, but enjoyed a very satisfying win at the Triathlon World Championships late last year in my age group.
Which sportsperson (or team) do you admire the most and why? That's a hard one. I have my own sporting hall of fame which is based on athletic achievements, personality and presence in their sport and the community. I really admire athletes who have endured tough times in their careers, have a professional approach and are genuine people. It's a select group of athletes to date, and names have yet to be publicised. So I won't mention any names as I don't want to upset anyone.
What things do athletes in Triathlon need to consider when racing? The Olympic Distance Triathlon, despite being an endurance event for most of us, is a real sprint race for the professional athletes. They need to ensure they are adequately fuelled leading into the race, are rested and at a body weight and composition that will allow them to optimise their performance on race day. Race nutrition needs to be addressed specifically for each athlete, as their individual requirements, opportunities for intake and tolerance for fuel and fluid varies considerably. Click here for specific information on Triathlon.
Updated March 2010
