Dr Olivia Rose takes Jamaican research to the 10th Ibero-American Congress of Sport Psychology as its sole English-speaking Caribbean representative

Jamaican Sport and Performance Psychologist Dr. Olivia Rose marked a historic milestone for Caribbean sport psychology when she presented Jamaican research at the 10th Ibero-American Congress of Sport Psychology, held in Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia, from September 29 to October 2, 2026.

A Sport Psychologist with the Faculty of Sport at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Rose was the only representative from the English-speaking Caribbean at the Congress. Her participation marked the first representation by an English-speaking Caribbean sport psychologist in this Congress space, bringing a Jamaican and wider Caribbean perspective into a professional and academic community predominantly operating in Spanish and Portuguese.

The Congress attracted a large international gathering of sport psychologists, academics, researchers, students, sport administrators and other professionals across the sporting sector. Among those participating was Sabaneta Mayor, Alder Cruz, reflecting the involvement of local government alongside the academic and sporting communities. The programme included six keynote lectures, 12 symposia, a research poster session and presenters from several countries across the Ibero-American community.

For Dr. Rose, the significance of Jamaica’s participation became apparent before she arrived in Colombia. While completing her registration, she discovered that Jamaica, or any other English-speaking Caribbean country, was not included among the countries available for selection. After she raised the issue with one of the organisers, she was advised to temporarily select one of the available countries to complete her registration. Subsequent Congress promotional material was updated to include Jamaica.

“At first, I simply could not complete the registration accurately because Jamaica was not an option. From the moment the significance of my participation was recognised, however, I was treated exceptionally well. There was genuine excitement and warmth surrounding Jamaica’s presence. I was treated like royalty,” Dr Rose said.

‘Who is there with the athlete when the public leaves?’

On October 1, 2026, Rose presented “¿Quién acompaña al atleta cuando el público se va?” during Symposium 10, coordinated by Dr. Laura Ayala of the Colombian College of Psychologists. Her research examined the experiences of nine Jamaican Olympians whose Olympic participation spanned 1972 to 2020. Central to the study was mattering, whether athletes feel important, valued and significant to others, particularly when performance, medals and public recognition are no longer at the centre of their lives.

Five themes emerged: performance as a condition of recognition; the medal as a symbol of importance; the conditional nature of some support; life and identity beyond sport; and the transition athletes experience when the lights, crowds and attention eventually fade. “The research came from Jamaican Olympians, but the question resonated across cultures: Who is there with the athlete when the public leaves?”

Delivering Jamaican research in Spanish

Dr Rose holds a first degree in Psychology and Spanish, delivered her presentation entirely in Spanish. “It mattered to me that I did not simply enter their space and expect everyone to accommodate me in English. I wanted to communicate the research in the language of the audience. Presenting academic research in another language required significant preparation, but it was important to me to do it.”

Dr. Rose expressed gratitude to Dr. Laura Ayala and Juan David Ortega Arroyave for their hospitality and consistent support throughout the Congress. She also thanked Carolina Dias and Ricardo Franco, whom she affectionately described as her “human translators”, for assisting her with translation, navigation and recording important moments, as well as her driver, Roberto Corria, who ensured she travelled safely and punctually throughout her stay. Dr. Rose believes that Jamaica’s presence demonstrated why the Caribbean must extend its international reputation beyond sporting performance into the research and professional conversations shaping athlete development and wellbeing. “Jamaica is already known throughout the world because of our athletes. But the

Caribbean must also be present in the research, scholarship and professional conversations that shape how athletes are understood and supported.” She hopes her participation opens the door for greater Caribbean involvement in future Ibero-American conferences, research collaborations and professional exchanges, while expanding the international reach of scholarship from the UWI Faculty of Sport. Dr. Rose also encouraged young athletes and sport professionals to learn another language.

“There is a vast world out there waiting for us to explore, contribute to and conquer. Language should never determine how far our talent, our knowledge or our Caribbean voice can travel. Jamaica to di wurl.”