With the countdown on to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, a QUT performance psychologist says elite athletes need as much mental health care as physical to support them in their career and beyond.
- Winners not always grinners in the game of life
- How far is too far when it comes to creating a champion?
- The science of sport has a sinister side
Professor Gene Moyle from QUT’s Creative Industries faculty joins World Science Festival Brisbane this weekend for a panel discussion on the interplay between science and sport, and whether science is helping create a new breed of super athletes.
A SPORTING CHANCE: Building the Ultimate Athlete asks whether or not athletes can be pushed too far in the pursuit of excellence and whether or not ‘Frankenstein-like’ innovations should be employed to give some the edge over others.
“Athletes devote their lives to being the best in their field; to winning that gold medal, major championship or grand final match. Usually they have support in the form of coaches, sports medicine, science staff and the like, however this doesn’t mean they will always achieve what they want to nor deal effectively with the outcome of winning OR losing,” said Professor Moyle whose work in the fields of the performing arts and elite sport is world-renowned.
“We are seeing some amazing advances in technology and the application of findings in areas such as neuroscience becoming an integral part of elite athletes' preparation and performance in the 21st Century. Are these all good developments? That’s the million dollar question.
“When some athletes are provided with performance-enhancing drugs – either legally or illegally – the psychological impact on them can be extremely negative. Talk of altering genes to create a super-human athlete is obviously a potential minefield as well.”
Professor Moyle has previously worked closely with a number of Australian Winter Olympics teams for Torino (2006), Vancouver (2010) and Sochi (2014). A board member of Queensland Ballet, she is also Australian President of Ausdance National.
“I have witnessed first-hand how far some people will go to be the best but winning can sometimes come at a huge psychological cost,” she said.
“Without the right support, people can fall apart emotionally after their sporting career has come to an end. We have seen it time and time again – injury, retirement or a failure to reach the benchmark they have set themselves can leave some athletes questioning their identity and place in the world.”
The panel will cover a range of related topics, including addressing how athletes can be better supported throughout their career and in preparation for life after sport.
For more information and to book tickets, visit the World Science Festival Brisbane website.
To find out more about QUT’s activities at World Science Festival Brisbane, visit our website.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
