Medical care in high-performance sport is undergoing a quiet transformation, driven by the need to respond more quickly and accurately to increasingly demanding scenarios. World Athletics and Siemens Healthineers have joined forces to bring diagnostic technology directly to the heart of competition, strengthening the safety of athletes and spectators through point-of-care testing (POCT) and advanced medical imaging at major international events.

This collaboration is particularly focused on a field gaining prominence: so-called endurance medicine. Events such as marathons, race walking, trail running and mountain races expose athletes to unique risks in environments where response time is critical. Traditionally, any diagnostic evaluation required hospital transfers that delayed key clinical decisions. Today, the goal is for medicine to reach the athlete, not the other way around.

Immediate diagnosis where competition happens

The implementation of the epoc blood analysis system and the Acuson Sequoia ultrasound has enabled medical teams to use advanced diagnostic tools without leaving the competition venue. “The benefit of point-of-care testing is being able to treat people in need wherever they are, as quickly as possible,” explained Bob Stowers, Director of Point-of-Care Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers.

During the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25, the ultrasound system was used to assess musculoskeletal injuries and other medical conditions in more than 1,200 elite athletes from around 130 countries. Strains, tears and contusions, common in explosive disciplines such as sprints, hurdles and jumps, were evaluated immediately, reducing transfers, waiting times and allowing for a more discreet, athlete-centered approach within the stadium’s medical areas.

Scientific evidence to redefine endurance medicine

The partnership has also extended into applied research. At the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, a study on heat adaptation and hydration strategies in elite athletes was conducted using the epoc system to analyze small blood samples and measure key markers such as electrolytes, lactate, pH and creatinine. The work was carried out in collaboration with Waseda University, and results are expected in the coming months.

For Dr. Stéphane Bermon, Director of the Health and Science Department at World Athletics, having these tools on site “is a game changer” in responding to heat- and hydration-related emergencies. Dr. Yuri Hosokawa, from Waseda University, emphasized that publishing these findings will help improve athlete knowledge and contribute to the next iteration of medical protocols supporting the world’s most demanding endurance events.