Dr Ebonie Rio will be embedded as Professor of Research at Victoria’s Olympic and Paralympic training hub.
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) and La Trobe University today announced the appointment of Dr Ebonie Rio as Professor of Research, a joint role that will embed world-leading injury prevention and performance science directly into the daily performance environment of Victoria’s elite athletes.
As one of only 11 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centres worldwide, the VIS supported in partnership with La Trobe University will harness this appointment to deepen the integration of evidence-based research into daily performance environments and elite sport practice.
Dr Rio’s work will connect the latest sport and exercise medicine research with on-the-ground performance programs, ensuring that VIS athletes, coaches, physiotherapists, and high performance teams directly benefit from cutting-edge scientific insights. This partnership aims to provide a competitive edge for VIS athletes, maximising performance outcomes on the road to Los Angeles 2028, French Alps 2030 and Brisbane 2032.
“Dr Rio’s appointment ensures our athletes benefit from the very best global research in real time,” said Nicole Livingstone AO, Chief Executive Officer of the VIS.
“That integration of research embedded in a daily performance environment, a real-time feedback loop, research shaping practice, practice informing research, is just one of the ways we support the health of our athletes and give Victoria an edge on the global stage.”
Dr Rio brings more than 20 years’ experience at the elite level, contributing to global events including the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, London 2012 Paralympics, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Dr Rio also holds positions as Chair of the VIS Research Council, and serves as the only allied‑health professional serving across both the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) Medical Commissions.
“This partnership will allow us to use research and innovation to fast-track success and embed findings immediately into the athletes’ daily performance environment,” said Dr Rio.
“The timing couldn’t be better, with the Winter Games in Milano Cortina, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year, and then the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, all culminating to create a green and gold runway to two home Games in Brisbane 2032.”
“I can’t wait to see what we can help our athletes and staff achieve.”
In her new role under the non-exclusive partnership, Dr Rio will also oversee and coordinate the broader body of research undertaken across the institute, consolidating work led by VIS practitioners and studies involving VIS athletes, strengthening connections across the wider sport science community.
Dr Rio will work closely with other national sports institutes to work towards the Australian Sports Commission’s “Win Well” pledge and its High Performance 2032+ National Strategy.
