Our people

Dr Natalie Legge

Areas of expertise: rowing biomechanics and technique, sports performance, performance analysis, musculoskeletal health and injury

Email:[email protected]

Location: ACU Strathfield Campus

ORCID ID:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6607-5732

Dr Natalie Legge is a lecturer within the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences at the Australian Catholic University. She completed her undergraduate degree in 2005 at The Ohio State University, in the United States, whilst also competing as a varsity rower for the University. Upon graduating Natalie took a position as a Sport Scientist as the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) whilst also completing her Masters of Exercise and Sport Science (Sports Performance) at the University of Sydney. During her time at NSWIS working across two Olympic cycles, she was involved with many sports, supporting coaches and athletes, helping them set up and implement performance analysis strategies. Her applied experience covered sports such as rowing, sprint canoe, slalom canoe, soccer, hockey, equestrian and netball.

Natalie also completed a Master of Chiropractic in 2014 and was a practicing chiropractor in private clinics for a number of years, with a strong interest in musculoskeletal sports-related injuries; before returning to postgraduate studies to complete her PhD in 2019-2024 at the University of Technology Sydney. Her PhD thesis explored rowing biomechanics and technique together with the physicality of the athlete in both junior development and senior elite rowers.

Natalie has been teaching at ACU since 2013, primarily in introductory and functional anatomy within the discipline of Exercise Science. Her research interests span sports performance with a particular interest in rowing technique, as well as general musculoskeletal health and injury.

Select Publications

• Legge, N., Draper, C., Slattery, K., O'Meara, D., Watsford, M. (2024). On-water Rowing Biomechanical Assessment: A Systematic Scoping Review. Sports Medicine-Open, 10 (1), 101.
• Legge, N., Slattery, K., O'Meara, D., McCleave, E., Young, D., Crichton, S., & Watsford, M. (2024). Physical and technical attributes associated with on-water rowing performance in junior and elite rowers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 42(18), 1716-1726.
• Legge, N., Watsford, W., Sharp, P., O'Meara, D., Slattery, K. (2023). "A feeling for run and rhythm": coaches' perspectives of performance, talent, and progression in rowing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41 (10), 927-936