Sport psychology: A psychologist at the Olympic Games (part II)

Abstract

Access to high level sport goes hand in hand with athlete’s personal history. The literature reports two types of access: heirs and non-heirs. Heirs are athletes who have inherited the sporting background of their family and non-heirs are those who have been inspired or even encouraged by a significant adult. In this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Maroussia Pare ́ , top athlete in athletics and psychologist, discusses her encounter with athletics and her access to high-level sport. Between early naivety, adolescence, fears and exploits, it shows how the other side is not always what one can imagine and that passion can be severely tested. Emotional experiences, as well as the cognitive demands inherent in the practice, constitute a real object of attention for psychologists who support athletes.