Athletes who attend the Isle of Man’s Sport Aid Academy have had their first event of 2019.

The athletes were joined for the session by former Commonwealth Games gymnast Grace Harrison who was able to share her experience with the group.

To start the session, the people who attended had the choice of three workshops: ’sleep, rest and recovery’, ’focus and concentration’ and ’faster - how to develop and improve speed’.

The all had a session on communication skills.

Isle of Man Sport Aid Sports performance coordinator Chris Quine said: ’It was great to get everyone together at the start of the year. January is an important month for our athletes as they look ahead to what the new year will bring and what they can achieve.

’Communication skills are important for everyone regardless of career path, but in sport it is vital to have the ability to communicate effectively with teammates, coaches, sponsors and the people around you. You need to be able to listen to constructive criticism, be honest about how you’re feeling and connect with people - or you’ll struggle to progress into the world of elite sport.

’That’s why we have dedicated a workshop to communication skills - helping the athletes to build on the skills and knowledge they already have and progress these further.’