**TCS brings innovative heart health project to Australian runners**
Global technology firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced the expansion of its Future Athlete Project to Australia, aiming to utilise advanced biotwin technology to enhance heart health and athletic performance. This initiative builds on the success of the project introduced at the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, where it first deployed a virtual model of two-time Olympian and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden’s heart.
The Future Athlete Project now includes four Australian First Nations runners, recruited in partnership with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF). This marks the first time grassroots marathon runners have been incorporated into the programme, which has traditionally focused on professional athletes.
The project’s Digital Twin Heart technology replicates the heart’s functions in a variety of real-world scenarios, aiming to understand how long-distance running can improve heart health and predict potential adverse events using artificial intelligence. TCS’s Global Head of Sports Sponsorships, Michelle Taylor, stated, "TCS’s Future Athlete Project integrates advanced technologies like AI and digital twins with data to drive innovation and solve global challenges. Through personalized heart insights, our goal is not only to help people improve their training, performance, and recovery, but their overall health and quality of life too."
Heart disease continues to be a leading cause of death globally, with Indigenous Australians experiencing a mortality rate from heart disease that is 1.5 times higher than non-Indigenous Australians. The participation of First Nations runners in this project is part of TCS Australia’s commitment to promoting a culture of running and wellbeing within these communities and addressing these stark health disparities.
Hayley Pymont, a Wiradjuri woman and Indigenous Marathon Foundation graduate, has also joined the Future Athlete Project. As the 2024 TCS Sydney Marathon Indigenous Running Ambassador, Pymont highlighted the transformative impact running has had on her life and community. She remarked, "Running reshaped the course of my life and I am privileged to be able to use my love of running to drive positive change in my community. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among Aboriginal and Torres Islander people, causing 1 in 10 deaths. Becoming part of the Future Athlete Project, a programme that has the potential to stretch beyond running and revolutionise heart health, and even the entire healthcare sector, is a meaningful next step in my journey."
Rob De Castella, the founder of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation and a four-time Olympian, praised the innovative approach of the project. "Runners who finish a marathon have pushed themselves past preconceived boundaries and emerge as beacons of inspiration with a sense of self-belief and pride, confident they can do anything. The Indigenous Marathon Foundation aims to showcase Indigenous Australia to the rest of the world, to empower Indigenous people to be leaders and to help support the existence of healthy empowered Indigenous communities across the country. It is a privilege to see graduates of our programmes continue to inspire and champion health for their community," he said.
Future Athlete Project participants can expect key benefits from the Digital Twin Heart technology, including the ability to simulate endless scenarios for optimal race day preparation, identify safe maximum heart rates, test the effects of various medications, prevent overtraining, and collaborate closely with coaches and medical teams to fine-tune conditions for peak performance and wellbeing.
TCS sponsors numerous global running events, including the TCS Sydney Marathon, where it is now the title partner. The expansion of the Future Athlete Project into Australia signifies the company’s dedication to leveraging technology to enhance sports and offer superior experiences for runners. TCS has been a part of the Australian market for over three decades, acting as a digital partner for many top companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
