Faculty

Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas

Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas is considered by many to be one of the world’s most accomplished sports physiologist.

Genadijus was USA Swimming’s Director of Physiology & Director of Sport Science from 2000 to 2008. He developed several innovative testing programs for USA Swimming Olympic and National Team members (including lactate clearance tests, land/water strength tests, biomechanical analysis and training design programs).

He tested, evaluated and advised USA Swimming National Team and Olympic Team athletes and coaches before and during all major international competitions and Olympic Games between 2000 and 2008, including gold medalists and world record holders Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson, Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker, Katie Hoff, Kate Ziegler, Misty Hyman, Amanda Beard, Tara Kirk, Megan Quann-Jendrick, Neil Walker, Gary Hall Jr., Anthony Ervin, Ed Moses, Lenny Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak, Cullen Jones and more than 2,000 world-class swimmers have been tested at over 60 major competitions.

Genadijus has provided testing feedback and advice to coaches at Stanford, California Berkeley, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Southern California, Alabama, Auburn, Arizona, Arizona State, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Denver, Colorado State, and many other universities.

Genadijus has also provided feedback and advice to numerous coaches and Olympic athletes in triathlon, running, cycling, modern pentathlon, fencing and wrestling. He has worked with United States Olympic Committee on supplemental oxygen training, use of altitude tents, vibration training/treatment, use of blood testing results, use of saliva testing results and use of urine testing results. He has also given presentations in many countries on training adaptation, recovery, altitude training, biomechanical analysis.

Before his work at USA Swimming, Genadijus was the Dean of Coaching Faculty at the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education between 1987-2000 where he served as the Scientific Advisor of Lithuanian Swimming, Modern Pentathlon and Track & Field. Also as the Head of Laboratory of Computerization in Sport, Genadijus optimized training strategies in swimming, running, race walking, modern pentathlon and triathlon, and developed mathematical models of adaptation of athletes in career, seasonal and weekly training.

Genadijus received his doctorate from the Russian Academy of Physical Education in Moscow where he used physiological, biochemical, and pedagogical testing programs to assess adaptation in swimming to different workload.