CRISTINA IBARRA

“Let's be allies and talk about your friend in a room of people who are relevant for her career.”

Meet Cristina Ibarra, who’s living her dream by working in sport and closely with athletes, creating strategies to protect them at the International Skating Union. She has a background as a human rights lawyer, teacher, and certified mental health coach, and she learned about anti-doping during her time at AISTS (International Academy of Sport Science and Technology). Cristina has also competed in two international triathlon championships.

IMPORTANT SUPPORTERS

“During my time as an athlete, the support of my friends played an important role in my career. More recently, receiving backing from influential people in my current job has also been important.”

MENTAL HEALTH IN SPORT

“I would like to help de-stigmatise mental health. High-performing athletes are under a lot of pressure, and their mental health can affect them just as much as a physical injury. I would like to advocate for the joy of sport and protect athletes from dangers such as abuse, overtraining, unfair play. Cases have shown that when athletes reconnect with the joy of sport, their performance improves. I would definitely advise approaching sport in a fun, relaxed way with persistence and discipline.”

COACHES AND MENTAL HEALTH

“Coaches play a crucial role in supporting the mental wellbeing of athletes. They need to tailor their training to the athlete’s individual learning style. For example, some athletes respond well to strong, assertive coaching, while others need a kinder approach. We must also avoid body shaming and watch out for signs of overtraining.”