U.S. Paralympic Team Performance Consultant Jamie Shapiro: Athletes’ Peak Performance

Athletes’ mental health has received significant attention recently, with Olympians like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles bringing the conversation to the forefront. While the spotlight may be new, the practice of sport psychology has long been established. What role do sport psychologists play in supporting athletes? How could athletes’ mental health shape broader public views on mental health? Dr. Jamie Shapiro, a mental performance consultant for the U.S. Paralympic team and a former competitive gymnast, has firsthand insight into the unique challenges athletes encounter.

Jamie Shapiro, PhD, is a professor and the director of the Masters in Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver. She is a former president of the Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology, Division 47 of the American Psychological Association (APA). She also works as a consultant with Sport & Performance Excellence Consultants based in Denver, Colorado, where she consults with youth, collegiate, elite, and Paralympic athletes from a variety of sports, including gymnastics, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, and more. She has a particular interest in working with athletes with disabilities and has worked as a mental performance consultant for U.S. Paralympic athletes and teams. She is also a former competitive gymnast and gymnastics coach.