The Line: Where Medicine and Sport Collide

Description

'Dr Freeman is a man of great integrity and kindness. His care has helped me through the good times and the hardships of competing in the highest level of sport' - Sir Bradley Wiggins As team doctor for British Cycling and Team Sky, Dr Richard Freeman treated the world's most successful cyclists, such as Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Victoria Pendleton. From 2009 until 2017, the 'Doc' was part of the team who became national heroes with Olympic and Tour de France victories. In The Line, Dr Freeman reveals the medical principles and practices that helped lead these athletes to success - ideas that we now consider commonplace, but many of which were in fact the Doc's own innovations. And in a sport where there's an ethical line as well as a finishing line, Dr Freeman gives a frank and open account in response to allegations of misuse of medical treatment to enhance performance. 'Without Dr Freeman, my career would have been shorter and less successful' - Liam Phillips, BMX World Champion

Dr Richard Freeman was Head of Medicine at Bolton Wanderer's Football Club and the English Premiership, before moving on to become team doctor at British Cycling and Team Sky between 2009 and 2017. Dr Freeman's patients in professional cycling have inspired a generation and are now household names: Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavandish, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Ed Clancy, Victoria Pendleton, to name just a few. Dr Freeman is now enjoying a quieter life, returning to family medicine and spending time with his four grandchildren.

Dr Freeman is a man of great integrity and kindness. His care has helped me through the good times and the hardships of competing in the highest level of sport Knowing Dr Richard Freeman as I do, I can promise you this: you'll be a much better prepared and informed sportsperson as a result of reading this book BMX is a war of attrition. Without Dr Freeman, my career would have been shorter and less successful. From becoming World Champion, to keeping my Olympic dreams alive after major injuries just months before the London and Rio Olympics. Dr Freeman was there through it all, always with my health his priority Dr Freeman is a compassionate doctor who is fully committed to a patient-centred focus Dr Freeman is one of the foremost sports doctors with a true compassion and care for the people he works with. The ability to treat the person whilst prioritising their performance needs is a rare skill he possesses Doctor Freeman is a pioneer in medical performance services in recovery and preparation for world class sports teams and athletes. In my opinion number one in his field Doc Freeman was a great support during my time at Team Sky. He was always a relaxed and confident doctor, even in pressured situations and was just a joy to have around. You felt like he really cared about your health, making sure he always stayed in touch and across everything whenever I was recovering from being sick or injured. Not only is he a brilliant doctor who I loved working with, he was also just a great person to talk to, always understanding the human side of what can sometimes be a fickle sport Dr Freeman has been a source of unwavering support throughout my cycling career through all the ups, downs, illnesses and injuries that I encountered through my career