Culture as a performance factor
In sport, organizational culture has a significant influence on an athlete’s ability to prepare for and perform at major international games. Elements of organizational stress, such as personal, team or leadership issues, are a source of strain for athletes. That strain can ultimately affect talent development and how an organization functions as whole.
Supporting athletes after the Games
After participating at an international competition or major games event such as the Paralympics, athletes may experience the “post-Games blues.” Research shows that support structures that include educational programs and resources are important to help Paralympic athletes transition to life post-Games.
Pandemic sailing
“It is possible. That was a big learning lesson for us. If you follow the right steps, consult with the experts and you do it properly, it can work out well.” In the SIRCuit, Katie Sweeting, High Performance Manager for Sail Canada shares insights on hosting a national invitational event with 10 days of racing…
Practice pays off
Becoming a Paralympian requires skill, dedication, resiliency, and a lot of practice. A recent study found that Paralympic athletes averaged over 6,400 hours of training during their careers.
Individualized training
An individualized approach to training and development is important for creating effective training programs for Para athletes. Research shows that Para athletes’ developmental pathways and training preferences will vary based on their previous sport experiences, personal preferences, and impairment type.
Mental health at the Games
“We’ve never been so focused on mental health and wellness at the Games.” In the SIRCuit, Stephanie Dixon, the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission, shares insight on the mental health strategies designed to support Canada’s Olympic teams in Tokyo and Beijing, including the debut of a designated Mental Health Lead.
Para sport research
The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympian Search Program provides an important platform for research on quality Para sport experiences, patterns in Para athlete development trajectories, and the engagement of underserved populations, such as girls and women, in the Para sport system. Learn more.
High performance health monitoring
Since 2011, Norwegian high-performance athletes have filled out weekly health surveys in the 12-18 months before every Olympic and Paralympic Games. From London 2012 to Tokyo 2020, researchers found that 32% of Olympic athletes and 37% of Paralympic athletes were injured at any given time. This data allows coaches and physicians to better protect the…
Managing expectations
We often think about the stress that an athlete experiences before a major competition, but what about their coach? Research suggests that many Paralympian coaches set high expectations for themselves which can lead to stress and burnout. Strategies that help coaches manage their expectations and the expectations of athletes and support staff are key to…
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Did you know that Tokyo is the first city to host the Paralympic Games for a second time? Tokyo first hosted the Paralympic Games in 1964, where 378 Paralympic athletes competed for 419 medals. Now, 57 years later, 4,237 athletes will be competing for 1,522 medals. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games kick off today and run…