Team Doctor
Wednesday 30 December 2015 12:05, UK
Dr Richard Usher
Richard Usher has been part of Team Sky since 2011 and now occupies the role of Head of Medical Practice.
Until recently a partner in a long-standing general practice in Cheshire, Usher has worked in various sports over the last 17 years and that experience has made him a valued member of the team.
After working his way up the ranks with the England rugby union squad, Usher became a first-team match doctor in 2002 and that year also formed part of the medical committee for the Manchester Commonwealth Games.
He then made the switch to top-flight domestic rugby and spent time as medical officer for Premiership sides Bristol and Northampton, whilst also taking on roles with England's hockey and blind football teams.
Richard also acted as a sports physician for the men's and women's hockey teams at the 2012 Olympic Games, and the WTA and ATP tennis tours were also added to his list of employers before he was invited to join Team Sky as a part-time doctor at the start of 2011.
Usher's professionalism and affable manner saw him attend more races over the three seasons that followed, and in 2014 he relinquished his role as a medical officer to the England students' rugby union side to devote more time to Team Sky.
He is thoroughly enjoying his expanded role in the team, and confirmed: "I absolutely love being part of this team. Prior to 2011 I'd had no real interest in cycling, but I'd kept in touch with Phil Riley since we'd done our sports medicine diploma together at Bath University, and when he and Richard Freeman approached me to join Team Sky I saw it as a fantastic opportunity.
“From the beginning of 2014 I was asked to take on the Head of Medical Practice role for Team Sky which was a great honour. Our medical team now has five doctors, two physiotherapists and a nutritionist, covering the 29 riders across the globe. This presents its own challenges and obvious rewards."
