Camberwell Sports and Spinal Medicine’s Athlete Sponsorship Program supports local athletes to be the best they can be.

Every year, Camberwell Sports and Spinal Medicine sponsors local athletes from a variety of sports to support them to meet the challenge in their chosen endeavour.  These athletes aren’t generally elite, but they have a passion for their sport and a desire to achieve something special. We love being part of their journey.

Over a 12 month period, as part of #teamCSSM, our sponsored athletes are paired with our team of practitioners and given full access to our world-leading facilities to enable them to take their performance to the next level.

For some of #teamCSSM, their goals are as simple as finishing their local fun run, for others it is to compete on the world stage.  Whatever their goals, we are happy to be there for the ride.

The Best Expertise. A Plan to Improve. Whatever Your Goal.

Sebastian’s love of cycling was instant after his father took him to the velodrome six years ago. He’s been on two wheels pretty much ever-since joining Oliver’s Real Foods Racing this year. He lists coming 5th in the under 23’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour as one of his career highlights so far.

For Sebastian, cycling provides freedom and adventure. “Unlike many other sports which are confined to a court or field, cycling can take people to new locations, places and on adventures which may previously have seemed impossible,” he says.
In 2020, as part of teamCSSM, Sebastian hopes to represent Australia at the Under 23 Road World Championships as well as the Tour de l’Avenir which is the largest under 23 stage race in the world.

Tom only began running seriously in 2018 but has decided to compete in the Chicago Marathon in October 2020. Not an easy task to set yourself when you haven’t had an injury-free year since 2010. Tom’s passion for running is intertwined with his own social enterprise UPmovement that sells funky socks. 100% of the profits are donated to help build prosthetic limbs in developing countries. For this certified prosthetist, his business venture was born after spending several months in Cambodia and witnessing the horrible conditions that many amputees have to live in. “I get to do something every day that millions around the world can only dream of doing – run,” he says. “I’m not just running for myself. It’s this passion that will push me through any challenges over the next year – I know there will be a lot.”

Whitney has been involved in athletics since early high school. Consistent training has seen her win the Australian Mile Championships in 2018 in a close finish, beating the race favourite. Most recently, she won the Victorian 5km state championships and the Melbourne Marathon 10km. “Running is a regular part of my routine and helps me to de stress,” Whitney says. “I enjoy competition, being fit and pushing my body to its limit.”

After sustaining her first significant injury last year – a stress reaction in her fourth metatarsal, Whitney is focusing on injury prevention and making strength and conditioning training an important part of her training regime. Whitney hopes to achieve the qualifying standard for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Ian took up slalom kayaking as a competitive sport just one year ago, although he has competed in canoe polo for 20 years. The 67 year old has no plans to slow down. Ian trains three times a week with a coach and has his sights set firmly on the 2020 Yarra Series Kayak Slalom Championships. “The challenge makes me passionate,” he says. “Kayaking requires good technique with focus on the detail. Taking up a competitive sport as an older athlete means I must take special care with preparation, fitness and training.”