Prof. Paul Wylleman (VUB) receives the highest international distinction in sport psychology
“Building a bridge between sport, psychology and society”
Professor Paul Wylleman, professor of clinical and sport psychology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has been awarded the ISSP Distinguished International Sport Psychologist Award by the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), the global organisation for sport psychology. This highest distinction in the field honours Wylleman for his outstanding, distinctive, and long-standing contributions to the advancement of sport psychology. He will receive the award during the 16th World Congress of Sport Psychology, which will take place from 8 to 12 December 2025 in Hong Kong, China.
This is not Wylleman’s first international recognition. In 2017, he received the Distinguished International Scholar Award from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (USA), for his significant scientific and applied contributions in sport and performance psychology. With the ISSP Award, the international community once again confirms his leading role in the global development of sport psychology.
Professor Wylleman’s research is situated at the intersection of psychology, sport, and society. “Central to our work is the question of how athletes can not only improve their performance, but also preserve their mental health during and after their sports career,” he explains. “We distinguish three levels of support: first, performance enhancement — how an athlete or team can strengthen their mental performance, manage pressure, or maintain focus at crucial moments. Second, the subclinical zone: support for complaints such as stress, sleep problems, or eating patterns that are not immediately clinical, but do affect performance and well-being. And third, clinical issues: support for burnout, depression, or eating disorders, which require specialised interventions.”
An important innovation in the work of Wylleman and his team is the attention to the mental health of the athlete’s entourage. Parents, partners, coaches, and even referees and judges form part of the psychological ecosystem around the athlete. Their support, expectations, and pressure directly influence the athlete’s performance and well-being.
The application of sport-psychological knowledge spans many years, various purposes, and several countries. Since 1988, Wylleman has applied sport psychology within the Topsport & Study service to support VUB elite student-athletes. He developed a national system of mental support for Dutch Olympic and Paralympic athletes, for whom he also served as team psychologist during the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games — a role he has held since 2022 at Team Belgium and in which he served as Welfare Officer and team psychologist for the Belgian Olympic team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. More recently, he has been leading an international group of experts responsible for the mental health and (sport) psychological support of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and teams in various countries.
Recent collaborations with international sports federations also focus on the psychological challenges faced by referees and judges. In addition, insights from sport are being translated into education and the business world, in areas such as talent development, leadership, psychological skills, cognitive readiness, resilience, and mental robustness.
“Sport psychology goes far beyond elite sport,” says Wylleman. “The knowledge we develop about dealing with pressure, motivation, or recovery after setbacks can just as well be applied in schools, companies, or healthcare institutions. The aim is always the same: strengthening people mentally and promoting their well-being.”
Within the VUB, Professor Wylleman also aims to further embed sport psychology in education. Together with colleagues from the Faculties of Psychology and Educational Sciences, he is working on integrating topics such as coaching, talent development, performance behaviour, and mental health into the master’s programmes in clinical psychology and occupational and organisational psychology.
“In this way, we ensure that future psychologists become familiar with insights and methods that have proven their relevance in sport, but also in society more broadly,” Wylleman adds.
With the awarding of the ISSP Distinguished International Sport Psychologist Award, the international community confirms the unique and lasting contribution of Professor Wylleman to sport psychology. His work has not only helped shape the field globally, but has also supported countless athletes, coaches, students, and professionals in strengthening their performance and their lives.
“This recognition is not merely a personal honour,” Wylleman concludes. “I see it above all as an incentive to continue, together with my colleagues and students, to build the bridge between fundamental research and its societal applications.”
Contact
Prof. Paul Wylleman: paul.wylleman@vub.be, tel: 0478 928494
