About Dr Martin Schwellnus

Martin Schwellnus graduated with an MBBCh (cum laude) at Wits University, and subsequently completed a Masters degree in Sport Science (MSc) and a Doctorate degree in Medicine (MD) at the University of Cape Town. He holds a Fellowship of the College of Sport and Exercise Medicine of South Africa (FCSEM SA) and a Fellowship of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM).

He is an Emeritus Full Professor of Sport and Exercise Medicine at both the Faculties of Health Sciences of the University of Cape Town, and the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He also holds a visiting Professorship at Goteborg University in Sweden. Currently, he is the President of the College of Sport and Exercise Medicine of South Africa (CSEM SA). He served on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Committee for many years, and also acted as a consultant to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) since 2012. Currently, he is the Director of the (IOC) Research Center in South Africa, a position he held for the last 14 years.

He is a registered medical specialist in Sports and Exercise Medicine and provides medical care to all physically active individuals, including recreational and elite athletes. He has clinical expertise in several areas in sport and exercise medicine, notably the following: 1) health benefits of regular exercise, pre-exercise screening, 2) prevention, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic (gradual onset) injuries, and prevention, 3) diagnosis and management of medical issues (complications) in physically active individuals, and 4) evaluation, risk stratification and exercise prescription as part of a lifestyle intervention program for individuals with risk factors or existing chronic disease. He promotes the prescription of regular safe exercise to all populations to reduce the global burden of non-communicable disease. He has many international research and clinical collaborators. He is an active researcher who has published over 400 scientific journal articles, chapters in books and conference proceedings.

He is an avid exerciser himself who loves mountain biking, running, and the occasional golf game. He is devoted to his family and is married to Riana and they have four children, and two grandchildren

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Person in front of barriers at the London Marathon event with spectators and race materials nearby.
Group of medical staff and a man posing in an indoor setting, wearing masks. The medical staff are in red bibs labeled "MEDICAL TOKYO." Person in front making a peace sign.
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Group of people in front of the Paris 2024 Paralympic symbol and sign, outdoors on a sunny day.