Dr. Margaret Burghardt, a local sport and exercise medicine physician, has just returned from South Korea where she worked as a team physician for Swimming Canada at the recent FINA World Championships.
Dr. Burghardt served as the chief physician for the Canadian Open Water swim team.
"Open water swimming is a relatively new pursuit for Swimming Canada, but is a very popular sport in other parts of the world," said Burghardt.
"The field tends to be dominated by the Europeans and Americans, but the Canadians and other swimmers are catching up quickly. We had a successful meet with a bronze medal on Day 1 and best times with strong placings by many of our swimmers," said the Orillia physician.
Open water can be challenging for the athletes and staff to deal with water and weather conditions which may vary greatly between different venues in various parts of the world.
In Korea conditions were very good with ocean water temperatures around 22-24C and only one day of increased wind and waves.
It is most efficient for swimmers to attempt to draft behind others and this can lead to some rough contact between swimmers – especially when swimming around the open water turn buoys and through the feeding zone.
“I have dealt with minor contact injuries as well as jellyfish stings, seasickness and other race-related issues for the swimmers," said Burghardt.
"The real challenge on long trips like this, though, is to try to keep the athletes healthy from colds, flu and other illnesses. An athletes’ village and hotel is always a risky place for disease transmission with so many people living in close quarters," said the Orillia doctor.
Burghardt has previously travelled to Spain and Israel with Swimming Canada Open Water and says she feels "privileged" for the opportunity to travel with and assist the team.
“The travel can be exhausting, but is always interesting and rewarding,” she noted.
Dr. Burghardt practices sport medicine in Orillia at Movement Physiotherapy and in her Barrie office at Rebound Physiotherapy and Sport Medicine.
