Ade Adepitan visited the UEL’s physiology lab at SportsDock as part of his medical clearance for ITV’s primetime series Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters.
The series marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws and features Adepitan and other celebrities taking on challenges in the Bahamas.
He completed a VO₂ max test at the university ahead of the challenge.
Richard Avery, an applied sport and exercise scientist who led the test, said: “It was a privilege – and great fun – to welcome Ade to UEL.
“He’s an incredible athlete and presenter, and we were delighted to help with his preparations for such a bold and demanding show.”
The test was a key component of Adepitan’s broader diving assessment and was overseen by a medical doctor.
The visit also highlighted the lab’s wheelchair-accessible facilities, including a specially adapted treadmill.
Dr Andy Galbraith, associate professor at UEL, said: “A VO₂ max test measures your body’s ability to use oxygen during intense exercise – it’s the gold standard for cardiovascular fitness.
“You push yourself to your physical limit on a treadmill, while we analyse your breathing and heart rate.
“It gives athletes and trainers precise data on endurance and performance.”
The lab forms part of UEL’s SportsDock complex and is equipped with industry-standard metabolic analysers and sports science technology.
Mr Avery said: “Our lab is fully accessible and designed to be used not just for elite testing, but as a real-world learning environment for our students.
“They gain hands-on experience in everything from human performance testing to research methods in sport and exercise science.
“It was brilliant that Ade, who grew up nearby in Plaistow, chose to use his local facilities for the test.”
Adepitan is one of seven celebrities featured in the ITV programme, alongside Helen George, Sir Lenny Henry, Ross Noble, Dougie Poynter, Lucy Punch, and Rachel Riley.
Filmed in Bimini, the Bahamas, the show features shark encounters and aims to promote conservation by changing the narrative around sharks.
The programme airs on ITV on Mondays at 9pm and is also available on ITVX.
