Anthony Papathomas

Anthony Papathomas is a Reader in Mental Health in Sport at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University. His academic background includes a PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Loughborough University (2011), an MSc from the same institution, and teaching roles at the University of Hertfordshire and London Metropolitan University before returning to Loughborough in 2015. His research focuses on mental health in sport contexts, disordered eating among athletes, physical activity promotion in secure psychiatric settings, and the psychosocial impacts of disability in sport.

Key educational milestones include a BSc in Sports Science (Liverpool John Moores University), PGCE (University of Greenwich, 2004), and MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology (Loughborough University). His work integrates qualitative methodologies, narrative analysis, and mixed-methods approaches to explore athlete mental health, stigma reduction, and interventions in clinical and elite sport environments.

Research interests highlight the intersection of mental health and sport, including athlete retirement challenges, body image in elite athletes, and trauma-informed practices in disordered eating research. He collaborates with organizations like the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, emphasizing translational research for clinical and policy applications.

His recent articles address peer support groups for mental health, interventions in secure psychiatric care, and systemic challenges in elite sport mental health management. He advocates for evidence-based practices in physical activity promotion and has developed tools like the 'Move More' Toolkit for secure psychiatric settings.

No scientific awards are listed, though his contributions to sport psychology and mental health advocacy are notable. He advises on physical activity policies and collaborates with healthcare professionals to bridge research and clinical practice. Ongoing work includes exploring narratives of athletes with mental health diagnoses and the cultural dynamics of risk in professional sports like wrestling.