With March being National Athletic Training Awareness Month, Emory Athletics would like to highlight several members of the Sports Medicine staff. The spotlight series continues with Olivia King, who joined the Emory Athletic Training staff earlier this month after spending time with Marietta High School.

** What inspired you to become an athletic trainer? 

I have always enjoyed athletics and the team atmosphere. I knew in school that I’d like to do something medical related, but I did not know what an athletic trainer was until I was in undergraduate school. I met Ron Courson at UGA by chance, and he invited me to shadow him for the day. I did not look back after that.

** What is the one thing you enjoy the most about your role? 

My favorite part is interacting with the student athletes. I enjoy talking to people and learning about their experiences, and I think being able to build strong relationships with the students I work with is so important. Once you have that trust, it makes everything else I do so much easier.

** What would you say has been some of your most memorable moments from over the course of your career? 

I was able to experience a Final Four when I worked women’s lacrosse at Syracuse. It was definitely a very fun experience with all of the fanfare that comes with it. However, the best memories I have just come from everyday interactions with coaches and the student athletes. Sometimes a bus ride can be the most fun part of a trip.  

** COVID has forced many athletic trainers to go above and beyond more than usual. Was this the case for you and if so, can you describe some of your expanded job responsibilities that you have during the pandemic?

The biggest responsibility I have had is making sure everyone is following the policies and procedures. Here is a bit different from my previous job because we did not have all of the testing requirements at the high school level. We did have to check temperature and symptoms of every athlete everyday. I had a teaching role, so I was not involved as heavily with contact tracing.  The resources and technology at our disposal at Emory is extremely helpful and does go a long way.

** Was there anything specifically that drew you to this position at Emory? 

I am from the state of Georgia, so I knew of Emory as a strong academic institution with great athletic teams. The most important part of any job for me are the people I work with, and I had heard great things about the staff.

** What is one of the most surprising part of being an athletic trainer? 

 The most surprising part to me is that I have fun and enjoy what I am doing every single day. When you are younger, I think you see jobs as just being part of life and as something you just have to do. I knew I would enjoy athletic training, but I never have a dull day at work. It is always different and exciting.

** What do you know now about athletic training that you would go back and tell your younger self? 

You will always have more to learn. If you get complacent in what you are doing, then you are doing a disservice to yourself and the student athletes you serve. There is always room to improve, and take advantage of any moment you can in order to grow and learn.