Europe Triathlon

For the Elite, U23, Junior and Para-athletes, the Medical Delegate is a person they frequently see as he or she busily works behind the scenes. For the Age-Group athletes, only a few will ever need the service of the person who has a massive responsibility at our events.

One of the most accomplished Medical Delegates is from Italy. Quietly efficient; there when you need him and always ready to help, Dr Sergio Migliorini is not only the Chair of the ITU Medical and Anti-doping Committee but also a published author.

Having graduated in 1983 from Milano University with a degree in medicine and surgery, he went on to specialise at Torino University with Sports Medicine in 1986 and then back to Milano for a course specialising in physical and rehabilitation medicine in 1993.

He started writing in 1986 and has amassed an impressive portfolio that is essential reading for anyone studying sports science.

• “Prevention and treatment of running injuries”. Ed. Correre Milano 1993, 2003
• “Triathlon: medical and technical aspect”. Piccin Ed. Padova 1993
• “Triathlon: training and race. Medical and technical aspects”. Ed. Correre Milano 1996
• “Duathlon “ Ed. Correre Milano 1995.
• “Emergency Medicine and Sport Ed. Correre 2006
• “ Boost your running” Runner’s World Italy 2018

We have heard that he has just had another book published; “Triathlon Medicine: A complete clinical guide to medical issues related to triathlon”.

A busy man and one who has dedicated his life to our sport, we thought it might be interesting to find out a little more about him.

ETU
Dr Migliorini, studying medicine is a huge commitment. At what stage in your studies did you begin to focus on sport in general and triathlon in particular?

Dr Migliorini
I was a runner competing in track and field middle distance races at that time and I focused my interests on sport traumatology before my degree at the Traumatology Sport Centre of the University of Milan.

ETU
What drew you to the sport? Have you ever participated in a multi-sport event? Which of the three disciplines is your strongest?

Dr Migliorini
I was 12 when I started to practice athletics at school with a cross country, and after my Sports Medicine degree I practised also the triathlon from sprint distance to medium distance, including  duathlon and winter triathlon. The run  was my best discipline. The past president of FITRI, Marco Sbernadori gave me the opportunity to be the FITRI medical director and at the same time to write sport medical articles on his sport endurance magazines.

ETU
As a doctor, a surgeon, you have worked in the most intense environment imaginable. How do the pressures that you face in the operating theatre compare to those that confront you at a major triathlon?

Dr Migliorini
The stress that I have during my job is more intense than in triathlon and it helps me during my activity in triathlon. Anyway sometimes in triathlon, and particularly during the Olympic Games, I have to support a lot of pressure and to take important decisions.

ETU
Are our events all pretty much the same? Do you face similar challenges at each event, or are there great differences, depending on the location, the nature of the race and whether it is a summer or winter triathlon?

Dr Migliorini
All the events are different considering the race distances, the location, the environment, the medical facilities in place, the LOC. The races at the beginning of the season and during the summer, are always a challenge considering that the athletes, particularly the age groups, are not very well trained, and with insufficient acclimatization they are prone to have heat illness.

ETU
A Technical Delegate will always remember his or her first event. What was your first event as Medical Delegate?

Dr Migliorini
I did the MD for the first time at the European Championship in Venezia 1988. Unfortunately that race was not very well organized and I was in trouble for all the weeks before and during the race  to manage in the best way the medical assistance.

ETU
Your new book, “Triathlon Medicine”, what inspired you to write the book?

Dr Migliorini
Elisa Geranio, Springer Clinical Medicine Book Editor, gave me the idea during the IOC World Conference Prevention of Injury& illness in Sport , in Monaco 2017. I accepted this new and big committent at the end of the year, and after two years of work with the colleagues of 20 different Universities the book is ready. All the authors are leaders in endurance sport medicine with particularly experience in triathlon. Really this is the book of more than 30 years of medical triathlon researches and assistance on the field .

ETU
With this vast experience, are you able to share it by teaching?

Dr Migliorini
Yes, since a long time I shared my experiences with the students and doctors during workshops, universities lessons, conferences. The ITU Science+ Triathlon Conferences is one of the best way to share all these informations in the ITU family, and we are working to organize also the Race Emergency Medical Workshop for the triathlon MDs/RMDs in conjunction with IAAF/IIRM.

ETU
Do you have any advice for medical students who have an interest in sport science?

Dr Migliorini
First of all it’s important to practice the endurance sports and second to continue to remain on the field to have the opportunity to put in place in a practical way all the informations received from the Universities and the Hospitals.

ETU
As you look back over your impressive career in triathlon, can you share with us some of the highlights and, perhaps challenging moments?

Dr Migliorini
I remember when I was the MD at the Triathlon European Championships in Geneva the presence for the first time with Marisol of the IOC President Antonio Samaranch, and of course the first World Championships in Avignon. Remain always in my mind all the post cards and fax that I received from Les Mc Donald inviting me to have more activities in the ITU Medical Committee. And also the first my report at the ITU Congress in Madrid, invited by  Loreen and  Marisol. Recently was amazing to receive the Michael Gignoux award in Lausanne Hall of Fame. A challenging moment on the field  was particularly the collapse of Jonathan Brownlee 5 minutes before the award ceremony at the London Olympic Games. It was not easy to manage this emergency in the best way and  to have in a correct time the ceremony.

ETU
For most athletes in Europe, we are approaching the “off-season”. Do you have any recommendations for “off-season” training, or resting?

Dr Migliorini
This period is perfect  to rest for 2/3 weeks, to perform the PHE/PPE and to resolve all the medical problems, particularly the overuse injuries at the lower legs, that are always common in endurance athletes. The prevention of injuries is the best way to have a winning career.

ETU
Thanks for taking time to share some moments with us and to allow an insight into the fascinating world of the Medical Delegate. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you on the circuit.

It is not often that we get the chance to speak to the people “behind the scenes” but they are all part of the great machine that delivers our sport; making it fair and safe for all. Now that you know a little bit more about Dr Migliorini, you can say “Hi!” to him next time you see him.

With Christmas coming and the new book, well, that’s a golden opportunity for those amongst you who are in the medical profession, or who have an interest in all things medical.

For any further questions about the role of a Medical Delegate, please contact ITU.