Latest News | 14 April 2021
New home and era for Derbyshire Institute of Sport
Derbyshire Institute of Sport has announced it is relocating to Derby Arena where it will expand its operations.
Founded in 2012 with the aim of increasing the number of Derbyshire-based, world-class athletes, DIS has been based at the Kedleston Road campus of the University of Derby.
It achieved its target of developing 20 champions by 2020 in February last year.
These champions include marathon runners Jessica Piasecki and Ben Connor who have both been confirmed in Team GB for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Managing director Chloe Maudsley said: “We are coming out of the third lockdown on a high with our move to Derby Arena, which has great facilities and enables an expansion to our work to develop, inspire and support people who want to be the best they can be at the sports they love.”
DIS has been instrumental in supporting a number of budding Derbyshire athletes.
It has worked with hurdlers Alex Knibbs and Jess Turner, para badminton world number one Jack Shephard, heptathlete Niamh Emerson, who is world junior champion and is now being coached by Toni Minichello and Jessica Ennis-Hill, and five times world champion para cyclist Katie Toft.
Now, DIS is to move to Derby Arena, where it will work with athletes and team players from across the country.
Chloe said: “We have had eight wonderful years working on-site with the university.
“They were a major, founding partner – alongside the city and county councils – when we began work as Derbyshire’s legacy project following the 2012 Olympics.
“We are so grateful to the university and founding partners for their support and unfailing belief in our mission.”
During the lockdowns, DIS has worked with athletes online, offering strength and conditioning classes, nutrition, psychology and lifestyle support and virtual physiotherapy screenings.
DIS is following all government guidance and working closely with the arena to offer its athletes full membership of the arena gym and face-to-face support from its world-class coaches in a Covid-secure way.
Chloe said: “For those who live further afield, we will continue to offer a package of 100% online support.
“This gives us the chance to help team sports players and individual athletes based anywhere in the world.
“Whether people choose a face-to-face or a virtual programme, they are all delivered by our multi-disciplinary team of experts who have supported Olympians, Paralympians and world champions.”
Rachel North, strategic director for communities and place at Derby City Council, said: “We are delighted that Derbyshire Institute of Sport has chosen the excellent facilities of Derby Arena for its new base.
“It is fantastic to see how we have achieved the vision of 20 elite athletes by 2020 and look forward to seeing the arena play its part in building more world champions of the future.
“Now that our leisure centres can start re-opening again, we look forward to welcoming our athletes in person.”
