Other Sports

Talking with Gerard Hartmann - the Irishman who treats the World Olympic stars


by Weeshie Fogarty

 When you walk through the doors of the Hartmann International Sports Injury Clinic at the University Arena, University of Limerick you are entering a virtual Aladdin's cave of world sporting memorabilia and personal items donated by the greatest athletes in the world. This was my wondrous magical sporting experience three weeks ago when at the invitation of Gerard Hartmann and his exemplary assistance Castleisland man Ger Keane I spent an afternoon viewing this rarest of collections.

On the 14th May Gerard a world renowned International Sports Physical Therapist celebrated the re-location of his clinic to the University by launching the Hartmann Collection. Our 1956 Olympic hero Ronnie Delaney performed the opening ceremony before a host of sporting greats including many from Kerry. The collection is without doubt the most extensive personal sports collection to be available on public view anywhere in this country. Indeed let me add that you would find it difficult to locate such a vast display anywhere in the world. It is a sports persons dream. So who is this man to whom the greatest athletes in the universe flock to when ever they are in trouble due to their sporting injuries. And let me add straight away that Ger had a huge part to play in Kerrys All Ireland win last year.

I first inquired about his Kerry connections. "I spend my annual holidays in Kerry, I love the place and I first came across a Kerry footballer when I was in Palliskennery College. I had as my PE teacher Ogie Moran then in his first teaching job. So when I did my leaving cert in 1979 I remember Ogie bringing the Sam Maguire to the school with Bomber Liston in the back of a van. We drank red lemonade out of that cup and little did I think that years later I would help Kerry to win Sam through the work I did with Seamus Moynihan, Owen Brosnan, Colm Cooper, John o Keeffe, Pa Laid and others, helping them through my gift as a physiotherapist. So I have a great connection with Kerry through my work".

So what exactly is his work and where did the concept of the collection come from, he explained. "This collection is very unique. I moved home from the United States in 1997, I had a clinic in Florida where athletes from 22 countries would travel to me. Kenyans, Ethiopians, Australians, Americans, Germans, South Africans, Britons. In 1996 Pat Hickey the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland invited me to come on the medical team for the Olympic Games in Atlanta. There I treated Sonia o Sullivan, Marcus o Sullivan and the other Irish athletes and a number of them said to me, why you don't move home to Ireland. It would be much easier for all of us to attend your clinic there. So within a year I was back home in Ireland, in Limerick. I used a family building as my clinic and athletes from all over the world would fly into Shannon and here I would treat them. Three years ago I was invited to re-locate my clinic at the University of Limerick Arena where we have all the best sporting facilities, the best in the world. All the top Irish teams base themselves here at some time during the year. We have every facility here and where better in the world could I have based myself".

Ger Hartman is a physical therapist who treats the injuries of athletes. He told me that he has revolutionized the treatment. He has coined his own phrase, prehabilitation, it is now being used by others but he coined that word 12 years ago. Simply it is the prevention of injury. He set up exercise prescriptions for the athletes, the great football players, hurlers, track and field athletes, so they can do exercises for their specific sports to prevent them from getting injured and more importantly to improve their performances. Its unique, others have followed suit but Ger is well advanced it that area and believes he is well ahead of the rest.

So, and this was the one question I was so anxious to ask him. Tell me some of the great sports people that you have treated in you career. "I have been very lucky; my name has been build around working with the best field athletes the world has seen. I have had 54 Olympic medal winners under my fingertips. Some of them have cried, groaned and moaned because I am known for my brutality. The Kenyans have a phrase, train hard, win easy and I take that concept into my treatment. It's very important to get these people back as early as possible, they are professional and they don't want to be out of action for too long". He then listed out a string of names of legends that we have witnessed win Olympic and world medals and others who have continuously broken world track records on many occasions. "I have worked with Carol Lewis, Le Roy Burrell, Denis Mitchell. Linford Christie, Colin Jackson, Eamon Coughlan, Marcus o Sullivan, Frank o Mara, Sonia O Sullivan Catherine McKiernan, Dervel o Rourke and many more.

And then there is your own Kerry great Gillian o Sullivan. Unfortunately I had the sad experience of sitting down with Gillian here a few weeks ago and advised her to retire. It was truly heartbreaking. She was unbelievably dedicated and was the first Irish woman to win a world title in race walking. Even though Gillian came back this year from that back injury she would have been a competitor no doubt in the Olympic Games in Beijing but would have been a minute and a half off the performance she needs. I would put Gillian o Sullivan up there as unique. One of our greatest ever lady athletes and for an Irish girl to come second in the world and set world records elevates her as one of the great stars of Irish sport. It's a very difficult time for Gillian and she would love to be out there chasing her dream and competing against the world's best. I wish her the very best in her life.

Then Ger directed me towards a display case in the centre of the room and among the running shoes, singlet's personal letters from around the world and giant size autographed photographed was Seamus Moynihan's boots and Kerry jersey. The man with the healing hands takes up this story. "Seamus Moynihan is in here with Sonia o Sullivan's Olympic silver medal. He is here with Frank o Mara and his two gold medals from the world championship. The legendary Eamon Coughlan is also here and the other GAA great Sean o Halpin is the fifth person displayed in this unique collection.

Now Seamus had felt devastated two years ago following the All Ireland final because he could not compete at the top most level. His back and his ham-string let him down. He cried bitter tears following that game under the stand in Croke Park because he could not produce any thing near his magnificent best. Following discussions with Ger and myself Seamus decided to give it one more year. His back was quite injured. He was like a nice Ford escort that was twenty years old, broken down that needed a huge amount of servicing. We then decided that he should take a complete break form the game and attend Ger Keane my great assistance from Castleisland and myself on a regular basis for continuous treatment. He journeyed up and down from Kerry to Limerick. He set up his own gym at home and did more exercises when he was not with us. Let me tell you Weeshie he was as dedicated and as disciplined as Kieran Fallon, Sean Kelly, Lance Armstrong or any other world professional sportsman that I have treated. He was unbelievable.

His attitude to his injury changed. He mixed with some of the worlds greatest athletes that came to my practice. He met Helegrabelisse Salisse, some of the Kenyans, he met Kelly Holmes double Olympic Champion, and many more and he realized that they think differently. He saw how they came back from serious injury and I believe that inspired him. His mind set changed and his last year with Kerry was probably his most glorious. I work with a lot of GAA stars from all counties but Seamus Moynihan is a legend. He was born with greatness and I have no doubt what so ever that he will play a significant role in Kerry football in years to come. I predict to you here and now that I will work with Seamus Moynihan in some capacity in the future. I guarantee he will lift the Sam Maguire again with Kerry".

And there in the glass case beside the boots and jersey of the man from Shronedraugh Headford was a beautiful message which Seamus sent to the two Gers following his magnificent All Ireland final display against Mayo last year.
"Ger the dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up. To live for a moment in unison with it. That was a miracle.

Thank you and Ger Keane for making 2006 such a special year.
-- Seamus Moynihan.
Written words can not in any way adequately describe the Hartmann Collection. Containing over 500 pieces from 22 countries it is truly unique. Make sure you visit it some time with your children.

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