API-based solution is next step towards 24/7 athlete empowerment in elite sports, builds on long-standing relationship in consumer wearables.
January 7, 2020
Las Vegas, United States –
Firstbeat and Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced a new solution that combines all-day health and activity data from Garmin wearable devices with the athletic performance analysis platform, Firstbeat Sports, to create training programs based on a more holistic view of an athlete’s day.
Firstbeat Sports Premium subscribers can now choose to share their Garmin Connect™ data with the Firstbeat Sports platform used by over 23,000 athletes representing over 1,000 teams around the world. The enhanced data set allows both coaches and athletes to make better informed decisions about training and recovery.
Thanks to an integration with the Garmin Health API, activity data recorded using a Garmin wearable device can be automatically transferred, further analyzed, and made visible in Firstbeat Sports. In practice, the integration gives coaches access to training data collected by athletes training outside of organized sessions – whether that be during the offseason, in rehab sessions, or individual workouts – providing the data to support a more holistic approach to athlete management.
The collaboration opens the door to future incorporation of other advanced health metrics from Garmin, such as sleep, stress, and respiration, to supplement the 50+ performance metrics already available from Firstbeat.
“Firstbeat is delighted to extend our work with Garmin to make it easier for athletes and coaches to collect and analyze valuable data beyond the practice facility,” said Veli-Pekka Kurunmäki, Director of Firstbeat Sports Performance Products. “We provide elite teams across the world with accurate and actionable physiological data. Adding Garmin activity data to this ecosystem will support coaches in getting the full picture on their athletes’ training away from monitored practice or during the offseason and allow athletes to better understand their own body’s response to training.”
“Garmin is excited to extend our relationship with Firstbeat into the arena of elite sports coaching,” said Joe Schrick, Garmin vice president of fitness. “Performance data is just one part of the picture of an athlete’s health. This new integration enables Firstbeat to provide a holistic view to coaches and athletes, opening the door to greater performance, recovery and overall health.”
Firstbeat and Garmin have a long-established relationship when it comes to consumer technology. Firstbeat’s unique heart rate variability (HRV)-based advanced performance analytics have been included in a host of Garmin’s award-winning wearables since collaboration began a decade ago. This collaboration will mark the first time they have joined forces in the elite sports world and arrives at a time when focus on understanding the ‘24/7 athlete’ continues to grow.
Princeton University Rowing are amongst the programs already benefiting from the integration. Firstbeat also has API partnerships with Kitman Labs, Kinexon and Kinduct. Adding data from Garmin Connect via the Garmin Health API to this ecosystem is the next step toward 24/7 athlete empowerment.
About Firstbeat
Firstbeat is the leading provider of physiological analytics in sports and well-being. We transform heartbeat data into personalized information on exercise, stress and recovery. Thousands of elite sports teams, wellness professionals, and millions of consumers worldwide trust Firstbeat to enhance performance and well-being.
Firstbeat PR contact:
Dom Walbanke
dom.walbanke@firstbeat.com
Further information about Firstbeat Sports:
Veli-Pekka Kurunmäki
Director of Sports Performance Products, Firstbeat
veli-pekka.kurunmaki@firstbeat.com
About Garmin International, Inc.
The ever-expanding Garmin fitness segment develops technologies to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Garmin Health provides enterprise solutions that leverage Garmin wearables and the high-quality sensor data they produce for applications in the corporate wellness, population health, and patient monitoring markets.
Garmin International, Inc., is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. All rights reserved.
Garmin PR contact:
Mary Woodbury
media.relations@garmin.com
913.397.8200
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