Talent, dedication and sheer hard work may be the building blocks of Olympic success, but having a team of nutritionists, psychologists and medics behind you certainly doesn't hurt.
As the Olympics and then Paralympics get under way in London, the athletes' success will be a tribute not only to their hard work, but also that of their support staff. Ruth McKean, a performance nutritionist with the Sportscotland Institute of Sport, will be watching keenly the athletes she has worked with, including Paralympic cyclist Aileen McGlynn.
Please enable cookies in your browser to display the rest of this article.