We have one core beliefBuild Better Athletes.
Athlete Performance Authority (APA) is at the forefront of elite athlete preparation, delivering world-class performance solutions to teams and individuals across the globe. Led by Dr. Wayne Lombard and Robin Arkell, APA brings decades of experience in high-performance sport, working with some of the world’s most accomplished athletes and teams.
We have one core belief: Build Better Athletes.
As a brand, APA stands for the success of our athletes. We believe in you being able to achieve your complete and true potential. This is what drives us, and it is our mission to propel you to the next level of sporting performance and long-term success.
We take great pride in our academic background, but it is the ability to apply this knowledge through real-world experience gained by working with world-class athletes around the globe that truly sets APA apart. This experience has allowed us to understand the impact we can have on your training plans.Â
Our athletic performance training programs aim to be holistic in naturecatered to your needs, for anything from:
conditioning
injuries
prevention
agility
velocity-based training
plans
webinars (various topics)
Together, Wayne and Robin have worked across professional hockey, cricket, rugby, and Olympic sports, ensuring that athletes are equipped with cutting-edge training methodologies, injury prevention strategies, and recovery protocols. APA’s approach is built on scientific research, data-driven insights, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, empowering athletes to achieve peak performance when it matters most.
From international competitions to domestic leagues, Athlete Performance Authority continues to redefine high-performance training, setting new benchmarks for success in elite sport.
Athlete Performance AuthorityCore Values.
The Athlete Performance AuthorityTeam.
ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE SPECIALISTDr. Wayne LombardPhD, MPhil, BSpSc (Hons Bio), BSportSci, CSCS, RSCC
Dr. Wayne Lombard has dedicated over 15 years to optimizing the performance of elite athletes across the globe. With a foundation built on humility, passion, empathy, and patience, he has had the privilege of working with world-class athletes and witnessing their success on the biggest sporting stages.
Dr. Lombard completed his undergraduate and honours degrees at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban) before joining the Sports Science Institute of South Africa as a Biokineticist and Performance Enhancement Specialist at its High-Performance Centre. He later pursued advanced studies, earning both his Master’s degree in Biokinetics and PhD in Exercise Science from the University of Cape Town (UCT).
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Throughout his career, Dr. Lombard has worked with some of the best athletes and teams in the world, providing high-performance support across various sporting disciplines. His expertise has taken him to prestigious international competitions, including the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Asian Games, two Commonwealth Games, and two Hockey World Cups.
In addition to his work with national teams, Dr. Lombard has contributed to some of the world’s top professional sporting leagues, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), South African T20 League, and Hockey India League. He is currently the Head of Athletic Performance for Soorma Hockey Club in the Indian Hockey League, leading the physical preparation programs for both men’s and women’s teams.
Beyond his applied work, Dr. Lombard remains active in sports science research. He is an Honorary Research Affiliate at the University of Cape Town, with a growing portfolio of scientific publications, reviews, and textbook chapters. His research focuses on load management, injury prevention, and performance optimization, bridging the gap between science and practical application in elite sport.
Dr. Lombard’s career is defined by a commitment to evidence-based practice and athlete-centered coaching, making him one of the leading figures in athletic performance science today.
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ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE SPECIALISTRobin Arkell MPhil, BSpSc (Hons), CSCS
Robin has spent the past 13 years immersed in high-performance sports, working across professional rugby union, international rugby sevens, and international field hockey. His ability to build deep connections with athletes has fostered trust and buy-in, leading to success at every level.
Notable achievements include winning gold at both the Senior and Junior Men’s Hockey World Cups with Germany in 2023, securing a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, winning the 2024 Bundesliga title with Mannheimer Hockey Club, and claiming silver with the Hyderabad Toofans in the 2025 Hockey India League.
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Earlier in his career, he played a key role in the 2014 UCT Ikey Tigers Varsity Cup victory and the Indian men’s hockey team’s bronze-medal-winning campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Academically, Robin holds a Sports Science undergraduate degree and an Honours degree in Biokinetics from Stellenbosch University. He furthered his studies at the University of Cape Town, earning a Master of Philosophy in Biokinetics.
Robin currently serves as the Head of Athletic Performance for Germany Men’s Hockey, Mannheimer Hockey Club, and Hyderabad Toofans in the Hockey India League. Passionate about high performance, he is particularly interested in fostering elite team cultures, developing leadership, and enhancing special strength and power development in team sport athletes.