Women of Winter Wednesdays - Liz Broad

As athletes took centre stage at Milano-Cortina, there was an entire network of experts working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Team Australia could perform at its peak.

For the Winter Games, that support team included three dedicated sports dietitians Liz Broad, Siobhan Crawshay and Alison Miles, each playing a critical role across villages in Livigno and Cortina.

Snow Australia spoke with Liz Broad, Lead Sports Dietitian at the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, about what it really takes to fuel an Olympic campaign.

Broad’s role at the Games was an extension of her work year-round, ensuring every athlete had access to the right nutrition to perform optimally in both preparation and competition.

“My role at the Games, as it is at OWIA, is Lead Sports Dietitian,” Broad said.

“This entails a number of facets which all link to our primary goal, which is ensuring all our athletes have the foods and nutrition sources they need to perform optimally in the lead up to, and during, competition.”

Preparation began long before the Opening Ceremony as Broad worked closely with each athlete, either directly or in consultation with their personal dietitians through the wider Winter Sports Dietitians network, to understand their individual nutrition needs. That included briefing athletes on what food would be available in the dining halls and how best to navigate the environment.

Alongside Crawshay and Miles, Broad coordinated food shipments from Australia and ensured athlete lounges were continually stocked, organised and maintained. In Livigno, she and Crawshay provided additional catering support for athletes with specific nutrition requirements, particularly those based outside the Village who required tailored lunches, dinners, breakfasts or snacks. The team also worked closely with sports medicine staff on cases involving injury or illness, making sure athletes had the appropriate nutritional resources to support recovery.

Food safety and access were equally critical. Broad liaised with Food & Beverage personnel to address issues such as food temperatures, variety and minimising cross-contamination risks, particularly for athletes with allergies. Importantly, the focus extended beyond the competitors.

“Ensuring all staff also have good food access is critical, they need this to perform optimally in supporting our athletes,” she said.

By the time the Games arrived, the groundwork had already been laid.

“The one thing we aim NOT to do at this time is to change what the athletes are doing,” Broad said.

“All this work, of building a robust nutrition plan that supports their training and performance capabilities, is done over the years leading up to a major Games. 

“Once you get to the Games itself, there are no changes, no surprises.”

Like every Olympic campaign, Milano-Cortina presented its own challenges.

“As with any Olympics, there are things that go well and things that require a bit more work,” Broad said.

The team had anticipated potential limitations in the dining halls, particularly around protein portions and variety, but were pleasantly surprised.

“We were anticipating some restrictions due to potential budget limitations, however this proved not to be an issue,” she said.

“This meant the reliance on food we supplied from outside wasn't as heavy as we might have expected, making this quite manageable.”

This was Broad’s eighth Games, and with that experience comes perspective.

“They’ve all been different, they’ve all had challenges as well as rewards,” she said.

“This one was tough due to all the injuries the team had in the lead up to, and during, the Games, but it also gave young, upcoming athletes a chance to experience ‘the big dance’ with limited pressure. 

“It was exciting to see how those youngsters embraced being suddenly thrust into the limelight.”

A personal highlight was reuniting professionally with Crawshay, with whom Broad had previously worked at the 2012 Summer Paralympics and at the AIS.

“It was great to team up again,” she said.

“It’s always a highlight when you get to see the athletes and staff you’ve worked with over a number of years do their thing and achieve their performance potential, whatever that is at the time.”

For those aspiring to attend a future Games in a non-athlete capacity, Broad offered some candid advice.