By Owen Morgan
Welsh competitors at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be boosted by additional scientific, medical and well-being support, thanks to an exciting new addition to the team’s backroom staff.
Commonwealth Games Wales has appointed Cath Shearer to the new role of performance general team manager.
The aim of the role is to coordinate performance support to Team Wales ahead of and during the Birmingham games.
Shearer will work with partners, including Sport Wales institutes, the University of South Wales and national governing bodies to raise support standards in science, medicine and athlete well-being.
On her appointment to the new role, Shearer said: “I’m delighted to be joining Commonwealth Games Wales in this new, exciting and vital role for Team Wales ahead of the next Commonwealth Games.
“Behind a successful team and the medal table, there is a deeper story of success and that all comes down to institutes working together, and the correct preparation and support being put in place to ensure our athletes have all they need to be able to produce their best performance.”
Shearer brings a wealth of experience to the post. A senior sport psychologist and strategic lead for system building at Sport Wales, she has worked as a psychologist for 18 years and has provided support to over 20 sports.
In this time, she has been selected to provide psychology support at three Paralympic Games and worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team at numerous international competitions.
She has also provided psychology support at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, as well as the Melbourne, Delhi and Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Shearer was part of the Swim Wales support team at the preparation camp on the Sunshine Coast prior to last year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games where Team Wales enjoyed a record breaking return of 36 medals including 10 golds, 12 silver and 14 bronze.
Chris Jenkins, CEO of Commonwealth Games Wales said: “We are very pleased to welcome Cath Shearer into the Commonwealth Games team for Birmingham 2022.
“Her role as Performance GTM is critical in delivering high quality performance support to Team Wales athletes and support staff in the lead up and during the Games.
“With Cath’s knowledge from her successful career and multiple games experience we are confident she’ll be a huge asset to the Commonwealth Games family.”