speaker-photo

Prof. Iñigo Mujika, PhD

Associate Professor of Sports Science, University of the Basque Country; High Performance Advisor, Japan Sport Council; Associate Editor, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Prof. Iñigo Mujika is an internationally recognised authority on endurance performance and training theory, with particular expertise in tapering, detraining, recovery, and the physiological underpinnings of elite athletic performance. Holding dual PhDs in muscular exercise physiology and sport sciences, he brings over three decades of experience bridging academic research and applied work in professional and Olympic sport.

He has held senior scientific and advisory roles at leading institutions including the Australian Institute of Sport, the Spanish Swimming Federation, Athletic Club Bilbao, and the Euskaltel Euskadi World Tour Cycling Team. Currently serving as High Performance Advisor to the Japan Sport Council, he supports national-level athlete development and performance planning. He also holds academic appointments in Spain and Chile, and contributes editorially to key journals in the field of sports physiology.

Prof. Mujika has authored approximately 200 peer-reviewed publications, 50 book chapters, and eight books, and delivered more than 450 invited lectures worldwide. A certified Level III triathlon and swimming coach, his 2010 review on tapering has become a cornerstone in evidence-based performance planning, and his comparative work on polarised and pyramidal training models continues to shape endurance training strategies globally.

Renowned for his ability to translate complex physiological research into accessible, athlete-centred protocols, Prof. Mujika remains a central figure in the evolution of high-performance sports science.

14:00 - 15:30

Friday 17th April

Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance

Prof. Iñigo Mujika delves into how to time training reduction for peak performance when it matters most, using science-backed tapering strategies trusted by elite athletes.

15:00 - 15:30

Saturday 18th April

Fast-Tracking ACL Recovery: Optimizing the Return-to-Sport Pathway.

Piotr Ciebiera shares strategies to accelerate ACL rehabilitation without compromising safety, focusing on optimized protocols that fast-track athletes’ return to competition.

16:00 - 16:50

Saturday 18th April

Detraining and Retention of Training-Induced Adaptations

Prof. Iñigo Mujika examines how the body loses or maintains performance during breaks in training—and how to minimize setbacks during injury, off-season, or unexpected pauses.