When Richard Ah‑Siu traveled to Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Ala. this past summer, he was only a few months away from competing with his team for a national championship in Goalball. Like any elite athlete, he knew he could still find ways to sharpen his skills and increase his competitive edge. What he found at the Sports Science and Performance Center (SSPC) at Lakeshore was a way to do exactly that.

“Putting in the work here with all the cool testing, seeing the imagery and all the information and all the scientific steps of where you could possibly be,” said Ah-Siu. “It’s great.”

Ah-Siu said he was drawn to goalball because of the speed of the game, and the adrenaline rush he gets from competing. Three months after visiting SSPC, he and his team, the King Cobras, went on to defeat the DC Stars in overtime to win the 2025 United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) national title.

Ah-Siu is not alone in turning to SSPC to enhance his game. In the past year, the Lakeshore Foundation’s Sports Science and Performance Center (SSPC) tested 253 individuals and teams, educated 371 more through clinics and sessions, reaching a total of 624 people with SSPC services. 

“What has been most exciting over the past year is seeing SSPC evolve into a truly diverse athletic community, one that’s not built around a single sport or profile, but around a shared commitment to excellence and inclusion,” said Amy Rauworth, Lakeshore’s Chief Research and Innovation Officer. “We’ve welcomed world-class Goalball champions like Richard Ah‑Siu alongside aspiring Paralympians — including athletes training for sports as different as Para bobsledding.”

It’s the diversity of athletes that Rauworth credits for SSPC’s rapid growth in only its second year.

Richard Ah-Siu working with SSPC nutritionist, Lacey Gammon in the kitchen.

“The depth of talent, from elite veterans to passionate newcomers, is exactly what SSPC was created for,” said Rauworth. “Each athlete brings unique experiences, goals and dedication. Together, they raise the bar for what adapted sports at Lakeshore can achieve.” 

Lakeshore Foundation has a long history in adapted sports. As the first organization in the U.S. designated as an official Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, it is home to three Paralympic teams and has hosted athletes and teams from more than 50 nations. But SSPC is not designed to serve only elite competitors; the expert staff has hosted veteran camps, led educational sessions and is well-equipped to help emerging athletes reach new levels.

Abby Sams Dimock, an emerging Para triathlete, visited SSPC before the beginning of her season and calls the experience a game-changer.

“I’ve hit more personal records than I did in the entire past year,” Sams Dimock said. “I even achieved a completely new score — something I never thought possible. The difference is undeniable, and I feel stronger, faster and more confident every day.”

To learn more about team camps at SSPC, visit the website here and apply today. SSPC was created to break down the barriers to high-performance assessment and training for athletes with a disability. A limited number of scholarships are available for qualifying athletes. Click here to learn more and apply.

If you want to learn more about Richard Ah-Siu and his journey to the national championship, watch a short video of him at Lakeshore here.

If you are an athlete, coach or trainer ready for you or your team to reach the next level, SSPC is open to athletes of all abilities and experience. Visit www.lakeshore.org/sspc to learn more.

Para triathlete Abby Sams Dimock working out at SSPC