Roald Bahr

Professor Roald Bahr is a leading figure in sports medicine at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH), where he holds a professorship in sports medicine and directs the Center for Sports Injury Research. He concurrently serves as chief physician at Olympiatoppen (Norwegian Olympic Sports Centre) and leads the Aspetar Sports Injury & Illness Prevention Programme in Doha. A medical doctor with a PhD from the University of Oslo (1991), Bahr is an authorized sports physician by the Norwegian Society of Sports Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. His affiliations extend to national and international roles including team physician for the Norwegian Volleyball Federation and membership in the IOC's Medical & Scientific Expert Group.

Bahr's research spans sports injury epidemiology, prevention strategies, and physical activity health outcomes, with particular focus on football, volleyball, and winter sports. His work drives major initiatives like #ReadyToPlay (injury prevention in women's football) and the IP² NetWork for professional football. He has pioneered methodologies for injury surveillance across multiple sports, emphasizing data-driven risk management and consensus-based reporting standards.

His 450+ publications demonstrate consistent leadership in sports medicine, with recent work analyzing tendinopathy outcomes, ACL rehabilitation timelines, and injury mechanisms through video analysis. Key trends include longitudinal studies of elite athletes, multimodal prevention programs, and cross-sport epidemiological comparisons. His editorial leadership includes the IOC Manual of Sports Injuries (7 languages) and Handbook of Sports Injury Prevention (4 languages).

Professor Bahr's scientific recognition includes the Prince Philip Medal (2008) awarded at Buckingham Palace for advancing sports medicine knowledge, and the Nordiska Medicinpriset (2015) shared with international colleagues for research in sports medicine and physical activity. His contributions to consensus statements and surveillance methodologies have reshaped international sports medicine practices.

He has supervised 38 PhD candidates to completion and currently mentors multiple doctoral students. His research is supported by extensive grants including the #ReadyToPlay projects and Aspetar collaborations. The Center for Sports Injury Research operates as a hub for international collaborations with FIFA, IOC, and national Olympic committees, focusing on translating research into practical prevention tools for athletes worldwide.

Beyond academia, Bahr is a former Norwegian national volleyball player (58 caps) and coach, bringing practical athlete perspective to his work. His ongoing projects address neurodegenerative risks in former athletes, youth development pathways, and pandemic-related injury patterns in professional football.