News

A Motswana professional motorcycle racer, Ross Branch, today (18th September 2024) visited the University of Botswana High Performance Centre (UBHPC) for a series of scientific assessments in preparation for the upcoming World Championships. Branch made history as the first Motswana and African to podium finish at the Dakar Rally Grand Prix class, securing second place overall.

During his visit, Branch underwent a series of evaluations, including Body Composition analysis, VO2 max testing - regarded as the gold standard for assessing cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance - and Reaction Time assessments using the Dynavision D2 tool. The evaluations will inform the development of personalised training programmes aimed at enhancing both his performance and overall health.

Located at the UB Campus Indoor Sports Center and launched in 2022, UBHPC offers a range of sport science and medical support services for professional and developing athletes as well as the general public. The centre provides pre-season training camps, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and sport education, supported by a team of experienced researchers, psychologists and medical practitioners.

In addition, UBHPC has state of the art facilities, including a high-performance gym, sports science laboratories as well as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, making it an ideal venue for various sports events such as boxing, karate, netball, basketball and swimming championships.

As Branch gears up for the World Championships, the insights gained from UBHPC will play a pivotal role in optimising his training and performance.