Timothy Noakes Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2014

Timothy Noakes

Prof. Tim Noakes was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and studied at the University of Cape Town (UCT) where he obtained an MBChB degree in 1974, an MD in 1981 and a DSc (Med) in Exercise Science in 2002. He is Professor in the Discovery Health Chair of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town. He is also Director of the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine and co-founder with Morné du Plessis of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA). Noakes has published more than 450 scientific publications, has been cited more than 12 500 times in the scientific literature, has an H index of 61 and is rated an A1 scientist by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. In 2003, he received the UCT Book Award for Lore of Running (4th Edition) which is considered the “bible of the sport”. Among his other published works are Rugby without Risk, Bob Woolmer’s Art and Science of Cricket co-written with the late Bob Woolmer, his scientific autobiography Challenging Beliefs and Waterlogged: The serious problem of overhydration in endurance sports. Most recently his new book, Real Meal Revolution, co-authored with Jonno Proudfoot, David Grier and Sally-Ann Creed, has now been launched in November 2013. This covers the scientific facts behind the low carb, high fat diet and also contains recipes and advice. In 2002 Noakes was awarded the International Cannes Grand Prix Award for Research in Medicine and Water for his work on Exercise-associated Hyponatraemia (EAH). In 2004 Runner’s World (USA) included this work as one of the 40 most important “persons or events” in the sport of running in the past 40 years. In 2008 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (UK), the first foreigner to be so recognised. In that year he also received the Order of Mapungubwe, Silver, from the President of South Africa for his “excellent contribution in the field of sports and the science of physical exercise”. In 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Research Foundation for his contribution to sports science research. Noakes has been physically active all his life and has run more than 70 marathons and ultra marathons including seven 90km Comrades Marathons. At age 64 he now takes part in races up to 21km.