Sport (and Exercise) Medicine in Britain: Healthy Citizens and Abnormal Athletes

Historians have not so far considered Britain as a pioneer in sports medicine, instead arguing that an amateur ethos retarded developments in science and medicine. This article demonstrates that Britain institutionalized and formally recognized sport (and exercise) medicine in advance of most other nations. Further, its sports medicine grew from a focus on elite, competitive and professional sports and not—as had been the case for other countries—on school sports and exercise for health. An interest in the amateur athlete appeared only after 1970, the result of increased government intervention in national fitness and new theories in public health.