OBN Performance was founded in 2020 by Graham O'Brien to help athletes and professionals reach their full potential through evidence-based, high-performance coaching. Since then, Graham has worked as a high-performance coach across elite and professional sport, supporting athletes in cycling, football, GAA, and rugby.

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Having competed nationally and internationally as an elite athlete, the transition into coaching was a natural progression upon returning to Ireland, leading to the creation of OBN Performance.

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Daily work with athletes at OBN includes strength and power development, endurance coaching, sports science support, and injury rehabilitation, helping athletes achieve peak performance while tailoring programmes to each individual's goals.

 

Graham's academic background in sports science and strength & conditioning includes an MSc in Sports Performance from the University of Limerick, a BSc (Hons) from Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), and the NCSC in Strength & Conditioning. Graham is also a professional member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS).

 

Graham is currently a PhD Researcher in Biomechanics at the University of Limerick, where his research focuses on sprint performance and sports technology, testing some of Irelands top sprinters. Alongside his research activities, Graham previously worked as a Senior Technical Officer within the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the University of Limerick and has been involved in assessing students in areas such as Speed Development, Endurance Development, Youth Athletic Development, and Advanced Resistance Training at Setanta College.

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His research and expertise have been recognised through national media features and conference awards. Graham's work has been featured by RTÉ, and in 2026 he received the Choice Award for Research at the annual Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association (ISESA) conference in recognition of his research and scientific communication.​​

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Having competed internationally as an elite cyclist, Graham understands the lifestyle, demands, and challenges faced by high-performance athletes. His coaching practices are guided by extensive applied coaching experience, personal experience in elite sport, and a strong academic foundation grounded in evidence-based practice.

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Below are some of the teams and organisations Graham has been involved with.​​