Para sport pathways
Researchers at Western University are partnering with the Commonwealth Games Federation to identify the factors that drive inclusion in Para sport and to develop a high performance pathway for Para athletes in the Commonwealth region of the Caribbean and the Americas. Preliminary findings show that access to athlete classification is a current limitation to both…
Normalizing mental health in high performance sport
When USA Gymnastics legend Simone Biles put her mental health ahead of the competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, she elevated discussions around mental health to historic levels. For Canadian athletes and team officials, working to normalize the conversation around mental health also took centre stage. Read more about Team Canada’s approach to mental health…
Race pacing for triathletes
Most triathletes use a “positive” pacing strategy, where they gradually decrease their speed as the race progresses. However, research shows that starting slower or staying at a constant speed leads to better results. By adopting a more conservative pacing strategy, triathletes and coaches can improve race performance.
Supporting mental health in elite athletes
For athletes, mental health can be as important as physical health. Australian researchers encourage sport organizations to use a three-pronged approach to supporting high performance athletes by equipping athletes with skills to manage distress, training coaches to recognize mental health concerns, and working with skilled mental health professionals when needed.
Active economy
A region’s active economy includes all organizations and individuals who directly or indirectly contribute to the development and delivery of sport and active recreation experiences. Strategies that maximize the impact of an active economy can drive economic growth, employment and the development of skills essential to innovation and economic diversification.
Commonwealth Day
Today is Commonwealth Day, an annual celebration of the Commonwealth nations. This year, the XXII Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8. The Birmingham 2022 competition schedule features a fully integrated Para sport program and, for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, more medal events for women…
Increased concussion risk for Para athletes
Para athletes are frequently exposed to concussion risk, particularly in high-speed and impact type sports such as Para alpine skiing, Para ice hockey and wheelchair basketball. They’re also exposed to concussion risk in sports where the risk to the non-Para athlete would be considered low, for example, in track-wheelchair racing, where crashes happen often.
Mom’s Got Game! Stories of world-class athletes and gold-medal moms
Fourteen months ahead of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, curler Jennifer Jones had a nasty accident, tearing a major ligament, the ACL in her knee. She was pregnant with her first child and hoping to represent Canada at the Olympics. “Because I was pregnant, a lot of people never thought that I would be able to…
Elite mental health
Up to 35% of elite mental athletes experience mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. To manage mental health conditions in sport, the International Olympic Committee recommends taking an individualized and interdisciplinary approach, optimizing the training and competition environment, and making mental health resources and supports both accessible and commonplace.
Post-Games mental health support
Competing in major events like the Olympic and Paralympic Games can have a significant impact on athletes’ mental health. Olympic and Paralympic athletes are particularly vulnerable in the post-Games period. Since both staff and resources are likely to be depleted after the Games, planning for specialized support can help athletes during this critical time.