Laurier welcomes leading sport scientist for Dr. Fred Binding Memorial Lecture in Sport Psychology

March 6, 2024
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – Dr. Sharleen Hoar will share her insights as an athlete, academic, sport scientist, and mental performance consultant in her lecture “The Evolution of Sport Psychology – Elevating Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Performance,” taking place March 27 at 7 p.m. on Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus. The event is free and open to the public, and tickets are now available.

A mental performance consultant for Cycling Canada and Paratriathlon Olympic/Paralympic team athletes, coaches, sport science and medical professionals, Hoar supported clients through four Olympic/Paralympic games. She serves as lead, mental performance at Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and lead of mental performance and mental health at Sport Scientist Canada’s High Performance Advisory Council.

“Dr. Hoar has had a front row seat to the evolution of sport psychology in Canada,” said Mark Eys, professor of Kinesiology/ Physical Education and Psychology and Laurier Research Chair in Group Dynamics and Physical Activity. “We are thrilled to welcome her to Laurier to share her experiences, and listen to her reflections regarding Canada’s slow adoption of this hybrid science beginning with the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, as well as how sport psychology can continue to make a significant impact on elite athletic performance.”

The lecture series is named in honour of Fred Binding, a long-time faculty member in Laurier’s Department of Psychology who taught a course on sport psychology, a subject he was passionate about. Presented by the Faculty of Science and the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, the annual event features internationally-known researchers in topics related to sport psychology.

Hoar’s lecture takes place March 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Senate and Board Chambers on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. This is a free, public event. Registration is required.