AN ENNIS school won two awards at the Dare to Believe PTSB 10th PExpo.
Held last Thursday in the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown, the senior prize in the PExpo was claimed by two Clare students.
Amy Hennessy and Juliette Purcell from Colaiste Muire won the senior prize in the technology and media category along with a special sport for business award.
Noticing that women athletes have different physical challenges to men, they came up with an online programme called FemFlexOfficial which, among other things, provides special exercise programmes that will help women ward off injury.
They explained, “We’re both keen soccer players and during the Women’s World Cup last year, we noticed how many women suffered from ACL injuries, far more than men. Yet when we started our research, we struggled to find websites specifically aimed at women athletes and their problems. So we decided to make one ourselves”.
Designing appropriate exercise programmes was the first step for the girls who consulted physiotherapists and coaches. The girls then tested out their programmes on the Tulla United U12 team. “We completed warm-ups, strength and conditioning, and cool-down programmes with the team, which won its league. We believe that starting our programmes from a young age will give rising female athletes the best chance of excelling without acquiring injuries,” the duo recounted.
Their programme was also introduced to the schools U16 championship winning volleyball team with notable success. They have since created an Instagram account (@femflexofficial).
