Victor Popov: Lessons from 40 Years in Elite Sport

In episode 369 of The Physical Performance Show, sports physiotherapist Victor Popov shares insights from his four-decade career working with elite athletes across Olympic Games, Tour de France cycling, AFL premiership teams, and international swimming. He recounts his journey from early days in Sydney’s top sports medicine clinics to supporting champions like Robbie McEwen, Susie O’Neill, and Shane Watson, emphasising the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous learning.

This episode delves into the critical role of the nervous system in athletic performance, with Victor Popov explaining how heart rate variability, sleep, nutrition, and even ice baths can be used to assess and optimise recovery and resilience. He introduces his Neural Engagement Therapy and Training (NET) program, designed to help clinicians and athletes better understand and improve nervous system function. Victor Popov also offers practical advice for both aspiring professionals and athletes, highlighting the importance of self-belief, teamwork, and the ability to train consistently without injury. 

Special High Performance Seminar Event with Victor Popov on 30th August – register here.

Listen in as we delve into the following

• Victor Popov’s journey through four decades in elite sports physiotherapy
• Working with Olympic athletes, Tour de France cyclists, AFL premiership teams, and international swimmers
• The evolution of multidisciplinary approaches in athlete care
• What sets elite athletes apart: resilience, self-analysis, and the ability to endure
• The critical role of the nervous system in performance and recovery
• Practical ways to assess nervous system health: heart rate variability, orthostatic HRV, and sleep quality
• Tools for optimising recovery: hot/cold exposure, breathing techniques, nutrition, and acupuncture
• The development and application of Neural Engagement Therapy and Training (NET)
• Advice for aspiring professionals: continuous learning, collaboration, and respecting coaches
• The importance of self-belief and training consistently without injury
• Victor’s challenge to listeners: try ice baths, progressing from 90 seconds to 12 minutes for resilience and recovery

Quotes

“The minute you think you know everything, you’re finished. I’ll often say I’ll have an opinion on everything, but someone can convince me otherwise.”
“Any skill, any function, whether it be body, brain or mind, is always improvable. You can always train it.”
“Believe in yourself and the people around you. That belief is important. If you doubt yourself and you doubt the people around you, that doubt expresses in an inability to perform.”
“The athlete that can train the longest without injury will perform the best.”

To Follow Victor Popov

Facebook: @victorpopovphysio
LinkedIn: Victor Popov
Instagram: @iamvictorpopov

Timeline

0:00: Start
00:16: Introduction to the episode and guest, Victor Popov
02:10: Victor Popov’s background and career highlights in elite sport
08:04: Role of a sports physiotherapist in high-performance teams and with individual athletes
13:53: What sets elite athletes apart: resilience, self-analysis, and consistency
20:38: The central nervous system as the “governor” of athletic performance
28:01: How to assess the nervous system: HRV, orthostatic HRV, and practical examples
35:41: Tools to positively affect the nervous system: hot/cold exposure, sleep, nutrition, acupuncture
46:32: Advice for up-and-coming professionals: continuous learning, teamwork, and respecting coaches
53:53: Victor Popov’s single piece of advice for athletes: self-belief and injury prevention
55:18: Listener challenge: the benefits and protocol for ice baths
56:19: Where to find more about Victor, NET program, and upcoming seminar

People Mentioned

Robbie McEwen – Pro Cyclist
Susie O’Neill – Olympic Swimmer
Jason Akermanis – AFL Player
Shane Watson – Cricketer
Dr Joe Brown
Peter Stanton – Physiotherapist
Cam Lillycrap – Physiotherapist
Dane Larsen – Exercise Physiologist
Sam Riley – OAM
Ricky Ponting – Cricketer
Ellie Overton
Jade Winter – Studio Pilates
Bernie Wakefield – Swim Coach
Lee Matthews – Martial Arts Instructor
Tim Kerrison – Sports Performance Consultant
Michael Bohl – Swim Coach
Grant Hayes – Movement Performance Specialist
Eric Cobb – Online Fitness Coach
Kristian Blummenfelt – Ironman

For questions and comments about this Episode Send to the Show Host @Brad_Beer (Twitter) or @brad_beer(Instagram) or Huw Darnell huwdarnell.com.au or @huwdarnell (Instagram)