As the Paris 2024 Paralympics officially open this week, Western University has the following experts available to media on topics including the history and importance of the Paralympics, representation in sport, sport ethics, sustainability of sporting events and more.
David Howe
Professor, Kinesiology; former Paralympic runner – Available from Paris
Areas of expertise: Ethics of Paralympism, social history of the Paralympic movement, culture of disability, health and disability.
Laura Misener
Director and Professor, Kinesiology – Available from Paris
Areas of expertise: Social impact of sport and events, Paralympics, sport governance, global sport leadership, management of the Olympics.
Latest commentary from Misener: Why aren’t the Olympics and Paralympics combined into one Games? The reasoning goes beyond logistics
Nancy Harrington
Adjunct Professor, Kinesiology; Registered International Sport Physical Therapist – with Team Canada at five Paralympic Games
Areas of expertise: Social impact of Para sport, sport medicine, classification, representation in sport, and integration of high-performance sport.
Angela Schneider
Professor, Kinesiology; Director, International Centre for Olympic Studies; former Olympic rower
Areas of expertise: Olympics and ethics, athletes’ rights, women and sport and embodiment, philosophy of sport, sport medicine ethics, genetic doping in sport.
Adam Ali
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Areas of expertise: IOC Refugee Team, issues of race and gender in sport, sustainability of the Games, sport and colonialism.
Robert Barney
Professor Emeritus, Kinesiology
Areas of expertise: History of modern Olympic games, Olympic commercialism, nation building through the Olympics.
Alison Doherty
Professor, Kinesiology
Areas of expertise: Women in sport leadership roles, gender equity in sport leadership, maltreatment in high performance sport.
Dr. Lisa Fischer
Assistant Professor, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Health Studies
Areas of expertise: Sports medicine, sports-related concussion, return-to-sport after concussion.
Dr. Robin Mackin
Assistant Professor, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry; former Olympic softball player
Areas of expertise: Coach-athlete dynamics, growth mindsets in athletes, and coaching for excellence.
Jenna Schultz
Postdoctoral Fellow, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
Areas of expertise: Athlete rehabilitation and physiotherapy, return to sport for postpartum athletes.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Justin Zadorsky, Media Relations Officer, Western University, 226.377.1673 (mobile), jzadorsk@uwo.ca
Crystal Mackay, Director, Media Relations, Western University. crystal.mackay@uwo.ca; 519-933-5944 (mobile).
Cynthia Fazio, Media Relations Officer, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, 226.376.4924 (mobile), cynthia.fazio@uwo.ca
