This term, Year 11 Sport Performance and Leadership students have been engaged in a unit of work focused on learning about the science underpinning sports performance. Through this, they developed their understanding of functional anatomy, exercise physiology, and biomechanics, and applied these concepts across a range of practical fitness and sporting contexts.
A key aspect of the unit was the opportunity to explore how sport and exercise science is applied in real-world settings. During several visits to Les Mills, students participated in group fitness sessions designed to target both muscular and cardiorespiratory systems, enabling them to make meaningful connections between theory and practice. Students also had the privilege of learning from Westlake Girls High School alumna Frida Sumardjo, who shared her journey in the health and fitness industry. With over 22 years of experience in personal training, group fitness, and coaching, Frida provided valuable insight into the physical and mental demands of endurance sport. Her achievements, including multiple Ironman events, Coast to Coast competitions, and long-distance races, highlighted the importance of resilience, perseverance, and applying scientific principles to enhance performance.
Students further extended their learning through a visit to the AUT Millennium High Performance Centre, where they experienced sport science in an elite environment. During a structured session, students rotated through practical stations including a Wingate Anaerobic Test to measure peak power and fatigue, vertical jump testing using force plate technology to analyse force production and technique, and agility testing to examine movement efficiency and change of direction. This experience reinforced classroom learning by providing authentic opportunities to apply sport science concepts in a high-performance context.
