City Graduate Excels in Sports Rehabilitation

City of Glasgow College is proud to celebrate the success of Urte Zabelaite, an inspirational graduate who has built a remarkable career in sports rehabilitation. From a dance background to working with elite athletes, Urte’s journey highlights the power of dedication, resilience, and specialised education.

Urte’s interest in sports rehabilitation was sparked by her own experiences as a dancer. Training for over 30 hours a week, she suffered multiple injuries but struggled to find practitioners who understood the unique demands of dance. This frustration led her to pursue an HND in Sports Therapy at City of Glasgow College, which laid the foundation for her academic and professional success.

When the opportunity arose to further her studies with Scotland’s only BSc (Hons) in Sports Rehabilitation—a programme jointly run by City of Glasgow College and Queen Margaret University—Urte seized it. Despite the challenge of balancing her studies with raising a young child, she excelled both academically and practically.

As part of her course, Urte completed work placements with local football teams, council leisure centres, and community sports clubs, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Her commitment to learning and professional development paid off when she secured a prestigious role at the University of Glasgow’s Sports Association. Here, she works with high-performance athletes across multiple sports, helping them recover from injuries and optimise their physical condition. Her skills and expertise were so highly regarded that her employer created a bespoke role for her within the association.

Urte’s outstanding achievements have been recognised with the prestigious British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers Bill McLoughlin Award. This accolade celebrates her dedication, perseverance, and exceptional contributions to the field. Now, with an unrelenting drive for knowledge, she is pursuing an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine at the University of Glasgow, further cementing her place in the industry.

Reflecting on her journey, Urte highlights the importance of passion, resilience, and a proactive mindset in learning. She encourages aspiring sports rehabilitators to embrace the course's challenges, seek extensive practical experience, and cultivate strong relationships with both athletes and colleagues.

Associate Dean Iain Houston commented, “The BSc Sports Rehabilitation degree, though only three years old, is already producing outstanding graduates who are progressing into advanced studies and securing meaningful roles within the national sports sector. The sports therapy faculty takes great pride in having supported Urte on her journey. Her dedication and commitment make her an inspiring role model for current students.”

City of Glasgow College celebrates Urte’s achievements and looks forward to her continued success in the field of sports rehabilitation.