Last week, I walked across a stage at the University of Edinburgh and collected my doctoral scroll. If you saw the photos, you probably saw the smiles, the cap, the gown, my kids shouting “Go on Mum!” - the triumphant moment. But as with all triumphs, what you didn’t see is the gravity I had to fight to get there. Because I’m not an “academic type.” I hated school. I struggled in school. And for five long years of my PhD, imposter syndrome sat on my shoulder like a constant s

Last week, Felix Smith made history - becoming the first junior British male aerobic gymnast ever to win an individual medal at the European Championships. A bronze that represents far more than a place on the podium; it represents years of invisible work carried out not just by Felix, but by the three essential pillars of youth sport: the coach, the athlete, and the parent. This trio; sometimes called the coach–athlete–parent triangle isn’t glamorous, but it is everything. A

I see this time and time again in social media groups - desperate parents reaching out for help because they feel their child is being bullied by their coach. It’s heartbreaking, and sadly, it’s more common than many realise. From my research, I’ve seen how incredibly resilient children can be in sport. They’ll handle the boring, repetitive training sessions. They’ll sacrifice weekends and miss out on parties. If they’re passionate about their sport, they’re all in. But the o

QUESTION: What challenge have you faced as a sport parent? (Real Answers from my Research) “I don’t know good training from bad - especially early on in the journey.” “When my daughter gets upset after a competition, I don’t know how to support her - and I end up anxious too.” “The pushy parents shouting from the sidelines are hard to watch.” “Sometimes I ask too many questions.” “When she was facing a mental block, I didn’t know how to help.” "First competition - overwhelmin