Athol Thomson (PhD) is a research scientist and Podiatrist currently examining the interaction between football players’ shoes and the playing surfaces they compete on leading up to the 2022 FIFA World cup In Qatar.

Following on from over 23 years of clinical experience as a Podiatrist working with elite triathlon, track & field, cycling and rugby in Australia, UK and Ireland, Athol now has a split clinical/research role that has led to applied research publications on athlete rehabilitation using Anti-gravity (AlterG) treadmills, stress fractures of the fifth metatarsal in elite football, running after anterior cruciate ligament injury, and the evolution in football boot/playing surface technologies.