I am Julia Wells the founder of Bridge the Gap Performance, a consultancy born from nearly 30 years at the forefront of high-performance sport. My work is driven by a singular, career-defining principle: “People matter most – performance follows.”

A Career Built on High Performance

My journey began at the Centre for Performance Analysis in Cardiff (UWIC), where I built the technical foundations of my craft

Since 2004, I have played key roles within the UK high-performance system, a senior practitioner, technical leader and most recently as the Head of Performance Analysis at the UK Sports Institute (formerly the EIS)

Over the past two decades, I have had the privilege of supporting athletes, coaches, and support staff through five consecutive Olympic cycles: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024

Bridging the Gap

Throughout my 22 years at the UKSI, I have moved beyond the "what" of data to focus on the "how" of human performance. I have:

Led Systems & Strategy: Shaped Human Performance strategy at a national level, championing interdisciplinary collaboration and operational excellence

Developed People: Established lasting performance analysis systems and led the development of practitioners across multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports

Innovative Practice: Bridged the space between coaching, tactical insight, data science, and technology to ensure that systems serve the people using them, not the other way around

My Commitment

My mission is to advance the profession by supporting the next generation of leaders and organisations. Whether through Consultancy for national bodies and tech companies, or Mentoring for early-career practitioners and those navigating senior transitions, I provide the clarity and intentional support needed to thrive in high-pressure sectors.

I believe that the evolving landscape of performance analysis, from complex data science to multidisciplinary integration, only succeeds when it is grounded in trust, empathy, and a "people-first" mindset

Why Partner With Me?

30 Years of Lived Experience: Insights from the academic roots of the discipline to the podiums of five Olympic Games

A Strategic Leader: Expert at navigating organisational change and building robust performance systems

A Dedicated Mentor: Passionate about supporting leaders and practitioners through the moments that matter most