Mixed-gender Olympic sports

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games saw the introduction of several mixed-gender events, such as the triathlon relay and team judo. At Beijing 2022, 4 new events, in which women and men compete together, will be making their debut. These include mixed team snowboard cross, ski aerials, ski jumping, and short-track speed skating.

Beyond the medals: The health of retired high performance female athletes

Swimmer Summer McIntosh. Fencer Jessica Guo. Artistic swimmer Rosalie Boissonneault. These teenagers were among the youngest Canadian competitors in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Their intensive training will likely continue for many years to come as they search for even more success in their respective sports. But what happens later, when these female athletes put…

Climate change and winter sports

Climate change can have a profound impact on the conditions at the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, impacting athletes’ safety and ability to perform. Modelling suggests that if global emissions remain on the trajectory of the last 2 decades, only 1 city will remain worldwide with the ability to reliably host the Games. A low…

Winter Games injury prevention

Did you know that 12% of athletes competing in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games experienced an injury? While injury rates have remained similar across the last 3 Winter Olympics, there is considerable variation in incidence rates across sports. Understanding sport-specific variations in illness or injury can help with prevention and planning of healthcare during…

Athlete nutrition and travel

For athletes competing in Beijing, meeting nutrition goals in a different food environment might be a challenge. Planning for eating en route, considering food culture at the destination, and establishing team rules around food hygiene can help teams and athletes ensure good nutrition, manage jet lag, and reduce the risk of illness during travel.

Bouncing back from jet lag

Canadian athletes travelling to Beijing will have to deal with a significant time change. Jet lag can negatively impact sleep schedules and performance. However, research shows that good sleep hygiene (for example, a comfortable pillow and earplugs) and controlled light exposure can improve athletes’ speed and power for up to 96 hours after travel.

High performance mindset

There are many things that go into a podium-level performance. Interestingly, World, Olympic, and Paralympic champions report that mental skills were more critical to their performance than physical factors. Interpersonal support, performance strategies, and lifestyle are other factors that can help develop high-performing athletes.

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2022

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day, a day to raise awareness and combat stigma surrounding mental illness in Canada. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as many as 35% of elite athletes experience mental health symptoms and disorders. Fortunately, conversations about mental health are becoming more normalized in high performance sport. Check out the…

Lessons about mental health from the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo

Highlights For athletes, coaches, and others who worked tirelessly to make the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games a success, the global COVID‑19 pandemic increased stress and added to the already pressure-packed environment. When USA Gymnastics legend Simone Biles put her mental health ahead of the competition, she elevated discussions around mental health to historic levels….

2021 year in review: How SIRC embraced the “new normal”

After 2020 surprised us all with a global pandemic, many of us looked to 2021 with hope for a gradual return to our pre-pandemic “normal.” And with the widespread rollout and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, the activities that we put on hold as the pandemic unfolded, from social gatherings to travel, began…