06/11/2025
Over the last year, I've had the opportunity to undertake the IOC Diploma in Mental Health in Elite Sport.
It was a juggling act with work, parenting and a few other personal challenges thrown in. The program adds to my training and experience as a Performance Psychologist. I'm looking forward to applying the knowledge gained to better support 🇫🇯 and the other athletes and coaches I'm privileged to work with in Australia 🇦🇺 and around the world 🌎
I'm grateful to the IOC's Olympic Solidarity Scholarship and Fiji Association of Sport & National Olympic Committee for the opportunity and support in understanding the program.
Krishneel Maharaj: Championing Mental Health in Elite Sport
The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) is proud to announce that Team Fiji Performance Psychologist, Krishneel Maharaj, has successfully completed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Diploma in Mental Health in Elite Sport.
The year-long, globally recognised program was funded through an Olympic Solidarity scholarship and facilitated by FASANOC, equipping practitioners with evidence-based strategies to support athlete mental wellbeing throughout their careers.
Krishneel has collaborated closely with FASANOC for several years in a volunteer capacity as Team Fiji’s psychologist, supporting athletes and teams at major international events including the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Samoa 2019 Pacific Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He is based in Brisbane, is a registered psychologist in Australia and holds a Master’s in Sports Coaching from The University of Queensland.
“The Diploma was a game-changer,” Krishneel shared. “It deepened my understanding of the mental health challenges elite athletes face and gave me practical tools I can apply immediately. The self-paced format was ideal and the diversity of expert voices made the learning rich and engaging.”
The Diploma brought together experts from around the world to deepen understanding and practice in athlete mental health. Its practical, self-paced format aligns with the realities of high-performance sport and will further strengthen the support he provides to Team Fiji.
Looking ahead, FASANOC welcomes Krishneel’s plans to share his learning through webinars and workshops focused on early intervention, help-seeking and creating mentally healthy team environments. These initiatives will build on his ongoing work with our coaches, team managers and athletes to integrate mental skills and mental health awareness across Team Fiji environments.
With more Fiji and Pacific Islands athletes now using Brisbane as a preparation base toward Brisbane 2032, Krishneel will continue providing needs-based support to those based there, an approach he has already extended to Fiji athletes in Brisbane.
Krishneel’s journey into sports psychology is deeply personal. A former athlete himself, he understands the emotional rollercoaster of competition including the pressure, the setbacks and the silent battles with anxiety. “There’s a myth that elite athletes are invincible,” he said. “But the reality is, they experience mental health struggles at rates equal to or higher than the general population. Up to a third report symptoms of anxiety or depression. That’s why this work matters.”
Reflecting on the experience, Krishneel said, “This Diploma isn’t just a qualification. It’s a toolkit for change. It’s helped me grow as a practitioner and reaffirmed my belief that mental health is just as vital as physical training in elite sport.”
FASANOC thanks Olympic Solidarity and the IOC for enabling this professional development and congratulates Krishneel on this achievement. We acknowledge his continued commitment to the mental wellbeing and performance of Fiji’s athletes on the international stage and look forward to the positive impact his enhanced expertise will have across our teams.
