Member Profile: Sarah Chantler

Global Representative

Growing up in South Africa, Sarah is acutely aware of the role, power and impact of sport. Sarah’s first step towards working in sports nutrition (MSc Exercise Science, University of Cape Town) coincided with South Africa hosting the Soccer World Cup, and has continued since then. Sarah started to work with athletes while completing her MSc at the practice of Shelly Meltzer and Associates and slowly developed and built on turning the theory into practice. Having both a mentor and collaborating with a team of dietitians was a vital phase for Sarah’s development.

Being based at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa was important for Sarah as it allowed for both exposures to athletes of all sports, sizes and backgrounds, but also to improve her understanding of the multidisciplinary approach towards sport. Sarah has a strong belief in the power of the relationships around an athlete and enjoyed working with other professionals to optimise the holistic management of athletes. A part of Sarah’s work within adolescent rugby was developed and led to her presenting a model for Nutrition Literacy in adolescent athletes at the annual meeting of the South African society of Sports Medicine (SASMA) in 2017. Improving evidence based practice and the relationships within nutrition professionals in South Africa, Sarah was part of the team from the practice to organise a conference for those working in sport across the country in the same year.

In late 2017, Sarah was considered for a funded PhD at the Rugby Research Unit based at Leeds-Beckett University in the United Kingdom, and took the opportunity for both advancing her research profile and for professional development. Her PhD is focused on the impact of rugby based training on the markers of gut permeability and gut damage.

Part of her PhD includes being the lead performance nutritionist for the Yorkshire Rugby Academy and co-ordinating their nutrition education program and athlete management. Other roles now include teaching activities at the university and continuing to promote evidence based practice for all nutrition students.

Role as a PINES Global Representative

As a global representative I aim to promote PINES to other nutrition professionals in my region. I want to continue to help new nutrition professionals to develop networks that will help promote better sports nutrition practice and collaboration across the region.