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What does it take to power the world’s athletes? Champion marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge famously fuels up with a diet of ugali (a type of Kenyan maize porridge), fruits, beans and tea with three sugars, helping him run 220km each week. Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt claimed he was eating 100 chicken nuggets per day when he broke three world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And, at the height of his powers, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps ate between eight and 10,000 calories each day while training – a truly titanic amount of food.
Whatever athletes eat and drink, they often have sports dietitians to thank for keeping them fuelled. These experts of eating might not be in the limelight like their Olympic champion or local sports hero-clients, but sports dietitians play a vital role in athletic performance. If you’re considering a career in the world of sports, science or nutrition, a sports dietitian role might just be for you.
But how do you become a sports dietitian in the first place? With the help of Rhiannon Snipe, Deakin University’s senior lecturer in sports nutrition, we take a closer look.
From local footballers to our Olympic champions, Australians can’t get enough of sporting stars – and playing professionally is a dream job for many. If playing isn’t your thing, our national sporting obsession means there are plenty of other sporty career pathways to follow, including becoming a sports dietitian.
But what is a sports dietitian, anyway?
According to Snipe, sports dietitians use nutrition strategies to help athletes (and other active people) improve health and performance. ‘They assist athletes with optimising food and fluid intake to meet training and competition demands, monitor body composition, and provide guidance on fuelling, hydration, and supplements,’ says Snipe.
The job doesn’t end there, though. Those who become sports dietitians might also provide education (helping athletes learn about nutrition themselves), plan meals for training and travel, and work collaboratively with others like coaches, trainers and medical staff.
It’s athletes that lift the championship trophy, but sports dietitians deserve some glory, too. After all, part of the role of a sports dietitian is to help improve athletic performance and, according to Snipe, these experts are a key part of professional sports organisations.
‘Working as part of a broader multidisciplinary team, including coaches, trainers, and medical staff, they ensure that nutrition is integrated into every aspect of an athlete’s performance plan,’ Snipe says. ‘Their expertise in performance nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and individualised strategies makes them an essential part of the sports industry.’
They say it takes a village to raise a child and sports organisations aren’t much different. To be successful requires great skill from the athlete, of course, but also highly skilled administrators, managers, psychologists and marketers. Then, to make sure every athlete is in peak condition, sports organisations might employ both sports scientists and sports dietitians. But what’s the difference here?
As Snipe explains, the difference between a sports scientist and a sports dietitian is in how each approaches enhancing athletic performance.
‘Sports scientists focus on exercise physiology, performance testing, training design, and movement analysis to improve physical outcomes and prevent injury,’ says Snipe. ‘Sports dietitians, on the other hand, provide evidence-based nutritional guidance, helping athletes optimise fuelling, hydration, recovery, and overall health.’
Crucially, both roles work together as part of a team to support athletes’ success and well-being. This means that, whether you become a sports dietitian or sports scientist, you’ll be working towards the same overall goal of keeping athletes healthy, fit and ready for the next competition.
Whether you love the competitive side of sports, feel passionate about health and fitness, or want to combine a love of food and exercise there are plenty of reasons to become a sports dietitian. So how can you make it happen?
Eventually, the goal is to become an accredited sports dietitian, as determined by Sports Dietitians Australia.
First, though, you’ll need to complete a degree in dietetics to become a qualified dietitian. ‘Once accredited, dietitians can apply to complete the Sports Dietetics Course offered by Sports Dietitians Australia and accrue the required professional development hours for full accreditation,’ says Snipe.
When you become a sports dietitian, every day on the job is varied, fast paced, and highly rewarding. Some typical daily tasks working in high-performance sport might include:
Snipe says that, for those who choose to become sports dietitian, there will be plenty of challenges, too. These challenges can include:
For anyone who thrives in a world of competition, teamwork and growth, Snipe says these daily tasks and challenges add up to a seriously enjoyable career. ‘Sports dietitians find their work highly rewarding, seeing the direct impact of tailored nutrition strategies on athlete performance, health, and well-being.’
