Where science meets coaching, and female athletes lead from the front.
FAST Running is proud to officially welcome Marijke Welvaert into the role of Lead – Athlete Intelligence & Female Athlete Development.
A long-time influence behind the scenes, Marijke now steps into a formal leadership position that reflects her unique strengths—blending elite-level sport science with a deep commitment to empowering athletes, especially women and girls. With a background spanning the Australian Institute of Sport, CSIRO, and University of Canberra, Marijke brings evidence-based insight, real-world strength experience, and an unwavering belief in athlete-first coaching to every part of her work.
From performance data and experimental projects to developing the FAST Females strategy, Marijke’s appointment is a reflection of who we are: agile, inclusive, and always evolving to give every athlete the best chance to thrive.
Strategic Insight Meets Real-World Impact
Marijke Welvaert brings a rare blend of academic excellence, practical strength knowledge, and deep care for athlete development to her new role as Lead – Athlete Intelligence & Female Athlete Development at FAST Running.
With a research background spanning the Australian Institute of Sport, CSIRO, and University of Canberra, Marijke is a highly respected biostatistician and performance analyst. She has spent her career uncovering the patterns behind elite performance—and now applies that knowledge to the FAST environment, helping to shape training decisions, monitor progress, and optimise individual athlete development across all squads.
Athlete Intelligence
Marijke leads the integration of data and technology into the FAST Running framework. From analysing sprint metrics to exploring new tools like AI-assisted coaching, she turns raw numbers into real-world actions. Her dashboards, insights, and evidence-based strategies help coaches and athletes make smarter decisions—together.
Focus areas:
- Sprint and load analysis
- Performance dashboards
- AI and tech integration
- Experimental projects (e.g. personalised load zones)
Female Athlete Development
Marijke also leads our FAST Females strategy—ensuring our programs not only welcome girls and women, but understand and elevate their unique performance needs. From gym design and strength support to education around training through the female lifespan, she’s creating a more informed and empowering athletic pathway for female athletes.
She is a fierce advocate for inclusion, a role model in strength, and a mentor to young women navigating their place in sport.
A Trusted Voice, A Valued Leader
As a long-standing member of the FAST Family, Marijke has helped shape who we are—on and off the track. Her leadership reinforces our belief that athlete-first coaching, when combined with innovation and care, delivers more than performance—it builds confident, capable people.
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