He has been helping athletes reach their full potential for some 20 years and Nico Koutakis is still very passionate about what he does and the athletes he works with.

Koutakis is a strength and conditioning trainer at Maties Sport and is one of the trainers used by the Maties Sport High Performance programme. Strength and conditioning are vital elements of the HP programme.

"Strength and conditioning training is an organised and planned training session that target strength and conditioning for specific sports and athletes," says Koutakis. "The programme will not only depend on the sport, but also where in the season the athlete or team is. It also includes field conditioning, so not everything happens in the gym."

Koutakis adds that strength and conditioning also play a role in rehabilitation after an injury.

"We have a system in place that works. There is close communication and collaboration between us and the bio- or physiotherapist. It is important that we are all on the same page in getting the athlete back on the playing field."

According to Koutakis, strength and conditioning play a vital role in the HP programme.

"The number of sessions needed for strength and conditioning is way more than any other aspect of the programme. Teams and athletes sometimes need five strength and conditioning sessions a week."

There are many different kinds of strength – strength speed, strength endurance, power endurance – and it never includes only one fixed plan or move.

"You can get different outcomes by changing the way you hold the weight or by changing the movement," says Koutakis.

Conditioning focuses on fitness as well as the strengthening of weak areas. "We put together a plan to get players and athletes in the best possible shape to play their sport."

Koutakis has been doing his job for some 20 years and he talks with visible passion when he tells you about what he does on a daily basis.

"I am passionate about what I do and the people I work with. I love working with people who are driven and want to excel. The there is also the teaching element – I get the opportunity to impart some of my knowledge to the students who shadow us.

"The best part is seeing it all come together. It is not necessarily the end result – winning a tournament or seeing the athlete break a record – it is the journey that got us there that is the real reward."