USC's High performance athletes and teams
Sunshine Coast Lightning
The Sunshine Coast’s first national sporting team, Sunshine Coast Lightning, won the national championship in its first season.
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Cycling
Former national champions Matt Wilson and Ben Kersten have teamed up with Sunshine Coast Council and USC to create a better future for Australian cyclists.
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USC Spartans swimming team
USC is home to the USC Spartans Olympic and Paralympic swimming squad.
Learn moreHigh performance sport at USC represents a fearless commitment to developing sporting excellence alongside academic success — a catalyst for our rising champions.
At USC we’re building the ultimate environment where high performance and emerging athletes can flourish supported by world leaders in coaching, performance development and sport and exercise science research.
With nationally accredited facilities, year-round idyllic conditions and dedicated athlete support resources, USC is fast becoming a national leader in high performance sport and a university that ensures our athletes are well placed for continued success during their competitive career and beyond.
Become a USC High Performance Student Athlete
USC’s High Performance Student Athlete program has been designed to enable you to achieve excellence in both your sport and your study.
The program has a wide range of benefits and services which will allow you to balance the demands of your training and competition schedules with your study commitments so you can achieve your personal best in both pursuits.
![Study sport at USC]()
Study sport
Looking for a career in sport? Interested in how the human body works? Learn to harness the power of human movement and use exercise to help people recover from illness or injuries.
Learn more
![USC Sport Clinic]()
USC Strength and Conditioning Service
This service enables athletes to access the knowledge, expertise, and support of sport and exercise scientists.
Learn more
Research
USC Sport and Exercise Science Research has a strong focus on applied research that directly impacts athlete performance and has produced a body of work that includes biomechanics, exercise physiology, psychology, coaching, and motor control and learning.
USC Sport and Exercise Science Research laboratories are accredited by the AIS, and are used to assess national and international level athletes.
High Performance Sport team
![Professor Brendan Burkett]()
Professor Brendan Burkett - Director, High Performance Sport
Professor of Sport Science Brendan Burkett OAM is the driver behind USC’s High Performance Swimming Program.
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![Mark Sayers]()
Dr Mark Sayers - Deputy Director, High Performance Sport
Dr Mark Sayers has an extensive background in the biomechanics of team sports, technique analysis, and the development of sports specific speed and power.
Learn more
At USC we’re building the ultimate environment where high performance and emerging athletes can flourish supported by world leaders in coaching, performance development and sport and exercise science research.
With nationally accredited facilities, year-round idyllic conditions and dedicated athlete support resources, USC is fast becoming a national leader in high performance sport and a university that ensures our athletes are well placed for continued success during their competitive career and beyond.
Become a USC High Performance Student Athlete
USC’s High Performance Student Athlete program has been designed to enable you to achieve excellence in both your sport and your study.
The program has a wide range of benefits and services which will allow you to balance the demands of your training and competition schedules with your study commitments so you can achieve your personal best in both pursuits.
Study sport
Looking for a career in sport? Interested in how the human body works? Learn to harness the power of human movement and use exercise to help people recover from illness or injuries.
Learn more
USC Strength and Conditioning Service
This service enables athletes to access the knowledge, expertise, and support of sport and exercise scientists.
Learn more
Research
USC Sport and Exercise Science Research has a strong focus on applied research that directly impacts athlete performance and has produced a body of work that includes biomechanics, exercise physiology, psychology, coaching, and motor control and learning.
USC Sport and Exercise Science Research laboratories are accredited by the AIS, and are used to assess national and international level athletes.
Professor Brendan Burkett - Director, High Performance Sport
Professor of Sport Science Brendan Burkett OAM is the driver behind USC’s High Performance Swimming Program.
Learn more
Dr Mark Sayers - Deputy Director, High Performance Sport
Dr Mark Sayers has an extensive background in the biomechanics of team sports, technique analysis, and the development of sports specific speed and power.
Learn more