Welcoming Victor Merino Expósito

Victor Merino Expósito, is a sports psychologist and pre-doctoral researcher in the Grup d'Estudis de Psicologia de l'Esport (GEPE) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Victor's doctoral thesis is a qualitative study exploring the experiences of a vulnerable group within the sports context, specifically focusing on male sexual minorities who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Victor will be working with Professor Brett Smith. Read about what Victor has to say about his upcoming visit to the department: 

"Sports have always been a big part of my life. I used to compete in athletics, specializing in jumps and sprints, which was an incredible experience. Now, I enjoy sports from a different perspective. I participate in an LGBTQIA+-friendly basketball team, which combines my love for the game with my passion for activism. This connection between sport and social engagement has inspired my research and plays a crucial role in my doctoral work.

During my upcoming research visit to Durham University’s Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, I would like to deepen my understanding of the unique experiences of vulnerable groups in sports. I hope to enhance my knowledge and skills in participatory research, co-production, meta-synthesis, and creative qualitative methods. Those learnings will support my ongoing work on a meta-synthesis project and the development of a co-produced research within a high-performance centre.

Additionally, this visit represents a valuable opportunity for me to strengthen the connections between the GEPE and the Durham team, both of which are part of the Healthy Entourages throughout the Athletic Career project. I am eager to reconnect with colleagues, establish new relationships, and, above all, learn from experiences and insights that I may not even anticipate."