Mr Michele Zanini
Lecturer In Applied Sport And Exercise Science
School of Education, Childhood, Youth & Sport
Biography
Overview
Dr Michele Zanini is a Lecturer in Applied Sport and Exercise Science at The Open University, specialising in applied physiology, endurance exercise and performance. With a PhD from Loughborough University, Michele has led multiple research projects investigating the impact of prolonged running on physiology and how fatigue can be delayed during races. His work integrates research, teaching, and applied sport science, collaborating with elite athletes and organisations such as the Italian Triathlon Federation.
Research
Michele's research focuses on understanding and enhancing endurance performance. He is particularly interested in exploring: the effect of prolonged exercise on endurance performance, a concept known as "durability" or "physiological resilience"; the determinants of endurance performance, particularly running economy; and strength training as a strategy to enhance it.
Michele has secured research funding from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Physiological Society, and currently collaborates on research projects with institutions such as Loughborough University, the University of Exeter, Maastricht University, the University of Copenhagen, the Polish Institute of Sport, and TU Braunschweig.
Michele's research can be found here
ORCID: 0009-0007-8148-8843
Education
As an educator, Michele blends research and applied practice with teaching, designing engaging modules that bridge scientific theory and real-world application. Beyond academia, Michele's applied experience in elite sport further informs their teaching and research, ensuring relevance and impact in both educational and high-performance settings.
Michele is currently involved in the module "Applying sport and exercise sciences to coaching" (E236).
Applied practice experience
Michele has extensive experience in applied sport science, working closely with elite athletes, national federations, and high-performance organisations to optimise endurance performance. As a physiologist and head of strength and conditioning for the Italian Triathlon Federation, he has contributed to 6th place at the Olympics and several World/European Cup victories. He was also part of the Italian Team delegation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and currently supports the Italian Triathlon team in readiness for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
His applied expertise extends to collaborations with British Athletics, Loughborough Sport, Slovenian Athletics, Team Danmark, and professional endurance athletes and teams. By bridging the gap between research and practice, Michele ensures that scientific insights translate into meaningful performance gains for athletes at the highest level.
