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9 July 2026  7 min read

Chasing opportunity: Omar Heyward’s path into elite sport

It has crossed continents, cultures and disciplines — shaped as much by persistence and curiosity as by formal qualifications — and it is a path that offers a powerful message to the next generation of aspiring strength and conditioning coaches.

Growing up in Sydney, Heyward was, by his own admission, “always very, very active”.

“I loved being outside playing sport and tried everything you can think of,” he said. “Football was probably my main one as a kid, and I played a lot of tennis and athletics as well.”

Basketball, interestingly, came later.

“I didn’t find it until I was about 17, so I kind of missed the boat in terms of pursuing it seriously as a player, but I absolutely fell in love with the game.”

That late introduction didn’t stop the sport from becoming central to his career - just not in the way he might have first imagined.

“At that age when you’re trying to decide what you want to do as a career, I was flicking through degree options and the only thing that interested me was sports science,” he explained. “I didn’t have a clear vision at the time, but I knew I was fascinated by how training works, how performance is developed and how you can help athletes become the best version of themselves.”

That curiosity soon sharpened into a specific interest.

“I realised early on that I was really drawn to rehabilitation - how athletes return from injury, the relationship between practitioner and athlete, and how you guide someone through that process. I thought that was really cool.”

That interest laid the foundation for an academic journey that would take him around the world. After completing his undergraduate degree in sport and exercise science at Western Sydney University, Heyward spent time working as an exercise physiologist in Australia, gaining clinical experience and professional accreditation.

But he wanted more — not just academically, but personally.

“I wanted to further my education in a new country and experience a different culture,” he said.

That decision led him to the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where he undertook a Master’s degree in human movement science, specialising in rehabilitation.

With family roots stretching across Switzerland, Germany and the United States, the move also allowed him to reconnect with a broader sense of identity.

“My family is spread all around the world,” he said. “That’s probably why I’ve always had an appreciation for different cultures. Living in different places really shapes how you see people and understand what makes them who they are - and that’s actually really important in my work.”

Heyward spent three years in the Netherlands, a period he describes as transformative.

“I had a brilliant time there. I learned a lot - academically, professionally, personally and socially. It really shaped me.”

After returning briefly to Australia, his academic journey continued with a PhD at Leeds Beckett University, where he worked in partnership with the Rugby Football Union researching sports science in women’s rugby and coaching the England U18 and U20 Women’s pathway teams.

It was during this period in the UK that his connection to basketball deepened. While his earliest coaching experiences came in Australia, working one-to-one with young players, it wasn’t until his time in Leeds that he began working within a full team environment in basketball.

Those experiences - combined with his academic background - helped lay the groundwork for his eventual introduction to the basketball national team pathway.

“I had the opportunity to work with the GB Under-20s Women a few years ago,” he said. “I’d actually applied a few times before that and been rejected, so when I finally got the opportunity I was really excited.”

That willingness to keep putting himself forward would prove crucial.

More recently, that persistence paid off again when he received a call from Pete Thain, inviting him to join the senior women’s set-up.

“Camp was brilliant,” Heyward said. “I had a great experience. It helps that I have a real passion for the game, but also that everyone involved was so easy to work with.”

For those unfamiliar with strength and conditioning at international level, the role can often be misunderstood. Unlike club environments - where long-term physical development can be a higher priority - the demands of a short national team camp require a slightly different approach.

“On camp, it’s all about making sure players are ready to perform on game day,” Heyward explained.

“You’re not necessarily trying to build strength or power - you’re maintaining what they already have and making sure they’re fresh.”

That process involves careful monitoring.

“We track things like sleep, stress levels, readiness, mood, soreness -  a whole range of metrics - and then plan around that to make sure everyone is in the best possible place to perform.”

Preparation work happens both on and off the court, tailored to individual needs as well as team requirements.

“There’s individual and position-based work - mobility, activation - before bringing the group together,” he said. “We still do gym work, but it’s more about micro-dosing, priming and recovery than chasing adaptation.”

Communication, adaptability and trust

It’s a role that demands not only technical expertise, but also communication, adaptability and trust.

For Heyward, that human element is what continues to drive him - and it’s a key part of the advice he offers to those hoping to follow a similar path.

“My biggest recommendation is to get as much experience as you can in as many environments as possible,” he said. “At some point, everyone will have the same level of degree or certifications — what sets you apart is your experience.”

Just as important, he emphasises, is the value of building relationships.

“A lot of opportunities come through your network. This one came because someone knew me, knew my work and my interest in the sport.”

And with that comes an important mindset.

“You have to be comfortable with being told ‘no’,” he added. “It happens all the time. But it doesn’t mean it’s the end — it just means you need to learn, take on any feedback and be ready for the next opportunity.”

It’s a lesson he knows first-hand.

“If I could go back and speak to my younger self, I’d tell them to keep going and not give up. Nothing gets handed to you in this field - you have to chase it.”

Now, having taken his place within the senior Great Britain environment, Heyward is proof of exactly that - that with persistence, openness to new experiences and a willingness to embrace the journey, the path into elite sport is there to be built.

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