TCC Alumnus Dr. Asdrubal Lopez Provides Chiropractic Care at 2024 Paris Olympics

Dr. Asdrubal Lopez, a 2010 graduate of Texas Chiropractic College (TCC), served on the U.S. medical team at the 2024 Paris Olympics as one of only two professionals selected to provide chiropractic care during the games. His role underscores both the increasing recognition of chiropractic care in elite sports and TCC’s dedication to preparing its graduates for successful careers.

 

Lopez built a career specializing in injury prevention and rehabilitation within elite sports environments through chiropractic care. While at TCC, he completed rotations at Rice University to gain experience with athletes and earned a certification in Active Release Technique (ART), a specialized therapy that targets soft tissue injuries and is a favorable technique for many professional athletes, including Olympic athletes.

 

His journey to the Olympics began in 2011 when he started working with USA Track & Field. Since then, Lopez has served for national championships, multiple Pan-American junior championships, indoor world championships, and outdoor world championships, which led to him making the Paris 2024 Olympics medical team.

 

According to Lopez, working with elite athletes is often easier because they have a deep understanding of their own bodies, which facilitates effective treatment tailored to their unique requirements. Additionally, it helps minimize their nerves when they know that their care team is specialized in the techniques they are used to, which also reduces the pressure off the medical team.

 

“A lot of people are like, ‘well, is it hard working with athletes,’ and it’s actually sometimes easier because they know their body so well,” said Lopez. “They’ll tell you, ‘Oh, it hurts when I’m in my recovery phase of my gait’ or ‘Oh, it hurts me when I move my hip up at 40 degrees’…”

 

For the sports chiropractic students and practitioners who aspire to be on the medical team for the future Olympics, Lopez contends that hard work and persistence ultimately lead to these opportunities.

 

“The more you work…[the more] these opportunities will pop up,” said Lopez. “Don’t forget your value…and don’t minimize [the] profession.”

 

The Olympics showcases top athletes worldwide, and having a TCC graduate on the medical support team is a testament to the quality of education and guidance the college provides. Lopez is committed to ensuring that athletes receive optimal chiropractic care during the Olympics, contributing his skills to promote health and recovery internationally.