Posted on August 18, 2004 at 10:55 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Jim Hilyer, Ed.D., assistant professor of medicine with UAB’s Division of Preventive Medicine, has been selected to serve as the lead sports psychologist for U.S. Paralympic athletes. The XII Paralympic Games, for athletes with disabilities, will be held September 17-28 in Athens, Greece. Hilyer and the team will travel to Athens on September 10 and will return September 30.

Hilyer, who also directs the City of Birmingham’s health and fitness initiative, trains athletes in mental conditioning. “I work with athletes to develop their mental skills such relaxation and visualization, using guided imagery and goal setting,” Hilyer said.

This is the first time the U.S. Paralympic Committee has elected to have a sports psychologist accompany the team to the Games. “It is a real honor,” Hilyer said. “I have been working with the athletes and coaches for some time and am thrilled to have this opportunity.”

As teams have traveled to Birmingham to train at the Lakeshore Foundation, an official Paralympic training site, Hilyer has met and worked with many of the athletes. “This week, the rugby team is training here,” Hilyer said. “This weekend, I will be traveling to Colorado Springs to work with the women’s basketball team there.”

All together, about 4,000 athletes from 139 countries will compete in the Games next month. The U.S. contingent will include 310 athletes and coaches. Athletes will participate in 20 different sports.

More information about the International Paralympic Games is available on the Web at www.athens2004.com. More information about the U.S. team is available on the Web at www.usparalympics.org.