Dr. Richard Robinson, center, surrounded by Sidney Crosby, left,
and Hayley Wickenheiser, of the Canadian men’s and women’s
gold-medal winning hockey teams, respectively. Mr. Crosby scored
the game-winning goal in the overtime championship game. |
Providing care for athletes at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
Games would be a thrilling experience for any sports-focused
chiropractor. But West Campus alumni Richard Robinson, D.C.,
’96, and Gregory Uchacz, D.C., ’92, have enjoyed this experience
multiple times for Canadian teams at Winter and Summer games.
So, with Vancouver, B.C., hosting this year’s Winter Games, it
was the thrill of a lifetime for both doctors.
“Nothing can match being a member of a team competing in
your own country; what a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said
Dr. Uchacz, director of the Chiropractic Performance & Sports
Therapy Centre in Calgary, Alta., who has been a member of
the Canadian team sports care staff for previous Winter Games
in Salt Lake City, Utah (2002), and Turin, Italy (2006).
For the first time in Olympic history, chiropractic was included
with Host Health Care services under the auspices of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC). Host Health Care is
the entire medical support network for the Olympic Games,
and is accessible by all athletes, support staff and volunteers
involved in the competition.
Canadian sports chiropractor Dr. Greg Uchacz, center, with
Canadian Olympians Lyndon Rush and Cori Bartel. Mr. Rush was
pilot of the Canadian Bobsleigh 4, which won bronze, while Ms.
Bartel won silver in women’s curling. |
“Chiropractic is certainly gaining acclaim with athletes. There
were four chiropractors on the Canadian medical team alone,”
said Dr. Uchacz, who worked closely with the Canadian skeleton
and bobsleigh teams.
“Our involvement has evolved for many reasons,” he said. “With
more and more athletes accessing sports chiropractic, there are
greater requests for our services. A total of 22 chiropractors participated
in the Host Health Care services. This was monumental for
chiropractic.”
For Dr. Robinson, who provided care for Canadian athletes at the
2006 Winter Olympics and the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics,
this year’s Olympics was a particularly exhilarating experience, as
he is a native of Vancouver.
“My goal upon graduating from Palmer was to one day be a
chiropractor providing care for athletes at the Olympics,” said
Dr. Robinson, who also practices in Calgary and has worked
with the Canadian freestyle skiing, speed skating, women’s
hockey and alpine ski teams.
“The Torino and Beijing Games were amazing experiences.
But to be a chiropractor for the host country, in my hometown?
It doesn’t get much better than that!”
Both Dr. Robinson, who founded the West Campus Sports
Council in 1994, and Dr. Uchacz credit their West Campus
experience for helping them achieve their Olympic goals.
“Palmer was my foundation; it shaped me as a practitioner,” said
Dr. Uchacz, who is serving his fourth term as president of the
College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences of Canada, the national
governing body of sports chiropractic.
“What a legacy Palmer continues through its Sports Council
program. To see a full contingent of West Campus Sport Council
members attend last year’s International Sports Symposium at
the WFC in Montreal was amazing.”