ABOVE: GEOFF LONG
Heather Massey’s way of combining work and play wouldn’t be everyone’s idea of a good time. The seasoned open-water swimmer sometimes swallows wireless thermometer capsules to monitor how low her temperature drops during swims, and she keeps detailed notes on how she feels during each swim. “I’ve always been fascinated by what happens to your body when you do things to it, when you go and exercise or when you go to an extreme environment,” the University of Portsmouth physiologist says.
Both Massey’s interest in science and her love of sports go way back; it was a high school biology teacher who suggested she combine the two by pursuing sports physiology. Massey went on to study physical education, sports science, and exercise physiology at the University of Loughborough in her native UK, and after earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, took a job in the country’s ...
