The Models Behind the Magic: How You’re Shaping the Future of AI Coaching


Hello Reader,

We’ve always said it: Athletica is built on the shoulders of giants.

In our latest two-part podcast with Dr. Andrea Zignoli, we dive into what that really means. It’s about the "modelling-first" philosophy that drives everything under the hood—from Banister’s load-response equations and Critical Power, to our integration of HRV responses, anaerobic power reserve, and HIIT Science principles.

👉 Listen to Part 1: Modelling First: Building Smarter Endurance Training
👉 Listen to Part 2: Workout Reserve and the Future of AI Coaching

Andrea reminds us that meaningful AI doesn’t start with flashy black boxes. It starts with understanding the human system, then building from that foundation.

video preview

That’s how Athletica is designed: to coach with you, not instead of you.


You Want to Be Coached — And We Heard You

How do we know coaching matters?
Because when the AI-Coach occasionally missed the mark, you let us know—loud and clear—in the Forum.

We're grateful for that. Not only did it help us identify and correct issues, but it also reinforced something powerful:

  • You don’t just want a training calendar.
  • You want a coach.
  • You want feedback you can trust.

And that’s exactly what we’re working toward—together.


New Feedback Engine: Rolling Out Now

Thanks to your feedback (and a special shoutout to Stefano), we’ve rolled out a refined version of our Session Feedback AI, including:

  • Smarter session chatbot feedback
  • Improved compliance evaluation logic
  • Feedback that now aligns better with intention, effort, and execution
  • Applied to all new or updated sessions from this release onward

This is one more step toward making the AI-coach truly feel like a coaching partner—insightful, responsive, and grounded in the principles you trust.


“You, the Athletica user, are helping to shape the future of AI coaching—session by session, post by post.”

Stay tuned for more in-app coaching improvements as we continue to evolve Athletica based on your voice and experience.

Thanks for being on the journey with us.

Paul Laursen, PhD

P.S. If you’re enjoying your experience with Athletica, we’d be grateful if you could take a moment to leave a review on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Your feedback helps others discover us—and helps us continue to grow. 🙏


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