In 2026, many GPM authors make outstanding contributions to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.

Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspective and insightful view as authors.

Outstanding Authors (2026)

Celia Rodríguez-Longobardo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

Natalia Romero-Franco, University of the Balearic Islands, Spain

Outstanding Author

Celia Rodríguez-Longobardo

Celia Rodríguez-Longobardo holds a PhD in Sport Sciences from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), where she specializes in women’s health and sports performance. Her research focuses on pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic floor muscle training in female athletes, particularly in high-intensity functional training populations. Throughout her doctoral work, she conducted systematic reviews, intervention studies, and functional assessments related to urinary incontinence, pelvic floor function, and athlete well-being. She has collaborated internationally through research stays at institutions such as Boston University, James Cook University, Shanghai University of Sport, and the Lithuanian University of Sports. Currently, she collaborates with the Performance Monitoring Unit at the Spanish Sports Council, working on the evaluation and monitoring of elite athletes’ performance. In addition to research, she has teaching experience in physical activity and sport sciences and has contributed to educational and outreach initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of pelvic health in female athletes.

GPM: What are the most commonly encountered difficulties in academic writing?

Dr. Rodríguez-Longobardo: One of the main challenges in academic writing is communicating complex ideas in a clear, concise, and accessible way. Researchers are often very familiar with their topic, which can sometimes make it difficult to simplify concepts for a broader audience. Another common difficulty is balancing scientific rigor with readability while adapting to the expectations of different journals and reviewers. In fields such as sports science and women’s health, methodological diversity and inconsistent terminology can also make writing and interpretation more challenging.

GPM: The burden of being a scientist/doctor is heavy. How do you allocate time to write papers?

Dr. Rodríguez-Longobardo: I try to integrate writing into my weekly routine rather than leaving it only for the final stages of a project. Even during busy periods with teaching, research, or athlete monitoring responsibilities, dedicating small but consistent blocks of time to writing helps maintain progress. I also find collaboration very important, since discussing ideas with colleagues often improves both efficiency and motivation. Most importantly, I try to stay organized and work step by step, understanding that academic writing is a gradual process.

GPM: What is fascinating about academic writing?

Dr. Rodríguez-Longobardo: What fascinates me most about academic writing is the possibility of transforming research into knowledge that can have a real impact on people’s lives. In my field, research can help improve athletes’ health, performance, and well-being while also contributing to breaking taboos surrounding pelvic health in women. Academic writing is also a continuous learning process that encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and the exchange of perspectives across disciplines and countries. I think it is very rewarding to know that your work may help other researchers, clinicians, coaches, or athletes in the future.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Natalia Romero-Franco

Dra. Natalia Romero-Franco is a researcher and Associate Professor at the University of the Balearic Islands. She graduated in Physiotherapy (2009) and Sport Sciences (2020) and holds a PhD with international mention (2014). Her research career has focused on sports physiotherapy, injury prevention, and athlete health. Over the past six years, her work has evolved toward pelvic floor health in female athletes, an underexplored yet highly relevant field gaining recognition in both clinical practice and sports performance. Her research bridges clinical insight, technology, and high-performance sport. She has contributed to competitive research projects and led initiatives involving digital tools for assessment and monitoring. She has authored over 60 scientific articles in JCR-indexed journals and maintains active international collaborations, including research stays in Porto and Buenos Aires. Alongside her academic career, she is an Olympian middle-distance runner (Tokyo 2020), bringing both scientific and elite performance perspectives to advance translational research in women’s health in sport. Learn more about her here.

Key skill sets of an author, in Dra. Romero-Franco’s opinion, include strong motivation and genuine interest in the research topic, which drive deep engagement with the literature and the development of meaningful, impactful studies. The ability to write clearly and fluently, while considering multiple perspectives, is essential to accurately interpret and translate findings into useful knowledge. Equally important is openness to critique. Receiving feedback from peers and professionals is fundamental to improving the quality and impact of scientific work.

According to Dra. Romero-Franco, avoiding biases in one’s writing requires continuous learning and being aware of potential biases at all stages of the research process, including those more common in less familiar fields. Engaging in scientific writing training can help identify aspects that may otherwise go unnoticed. Reading extensively and participating in peer review processes are also valuable, as they expose authors to different ways of analyzing, presenting, and reporting results. Finally, collaborating with diverse research teams and actively listening to different perspectives is essential to minimize bias. This openness enriches interpretation and strengthens the overall quality and objectivity of the research.

“What motivates me to engage in academic writing most is the opportunity to contribute to the scientific community by providing new insights that advance knowledge in a specific field. Knowing that the findings of my research can support other professionals and benefit people is highly rewarding. In addition, the learning gained throughout the entire research process is a strong motivation. Although academic writing requires significant time and effort, it fosters critical thinking, deep understanding, and continuous growth - outcomes that are only possible through sustained dedication,” says Dra. Romero-Franco.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)