Beyond the Arena: Harry Lim

How a Sport Psychologist is Shaping the Future of Singaporean Athletes

Dr Harry Lim, Senior Sports Psychologist at Sport Singapore. Photo Credit : Dr Harry Lim

Behind every athlete’s success is a team of dedicated professionals who help them reach peak performance. One such professional is Dr. Harry Lim, a renowned sports psychologist in Singapore, who plays a pivotal role in supporting athletes’ mental well-being and performance.

Inspiring through Experience

Harry’s journey into sports psychology began nearly 20 years ago, fueled by his passion for sports, particularly football. Though he dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, fate led him to a different path. Encouraged by his three elder brothers, and with his early exposure, ignited a lifelong passion for sports, particularly football. After discovering football at the age of 12, Harry’s love for “The Beautiful Game” inspired him to pursue a degree related to sport.

“I definitely wanted to be a national footballer with Team Singapore! On an international level, French legend Eric Cantona was my first inspiration in football. The way he played the game was just a joy to watch… like artistry in motion,” Harry recalls. “Closer to home, I had the privilege of being in person at the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor in 1994 for the Malaysia Cup final and to watch our Dream Team bring the Malaysia Cup home.”

(Bottom row, 2nd from Left) Harry Lim with his fellow Brunel University teammates in 2007. Photo Credit : Harry Lim

His academic journey led him to Liverpool John Moores University, renowned for its sports science programs, where he studied psychology. Harry’s first significant exposure to professional sports came during a 2006 internship with English football club Bolton Wanderers. This hands-on experience, part of his university course, involved conducting workshops on key sports psychology strategies, such as performance profiling and goal-setting, for the club’s players. This experience solidified his passion for applied sports psychology.

After his undergraduate studies in 2007, Harry embarked on a five-year PhD program at Brunel University London. He believes that a PhD is a testament to one’s perseverance rather than just intellectual capability, likening the journey to an athlete’s career filled with highs and lows. “Many people have the misconception that a PhD reflects how smart a person is. But in my opinion, a PhD reflects one’s perseverance more than anything,” Harry shares.

In 2013, Harry returned to Singapore and joined the Singapore Sports School (SSP) as a sports psychologist. During his tenure, he worked closely with national shooter Martina Veloso, helping her secure a silver medal at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. His role at SSP involved observing training sessions, consulting with athletes and coaches, and planning programs, marking his first significant contribution to Singapore’s sports ecosystem. Harry noted that “our TeamSG athletes do possess the talent to be competing with the best in the world. But there’s a big fear of failure which stops them from attaining or reaching their full potential.”

Dr Harry Lim (1 st from Left) NYSI Acting Head of Psychology, celebrates with TeamSG’s Silver-medal winning Shooter Mohd Irwan (2nd from right) at the 2017 SEA Games. Photo Credit : nysi.org.sg

Harry’s career took a significant leap when he joined the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) in 2015, eventually becoming the Head of Sports Psychology. At NYSI, he developed a mental health framework to support national athletes, focusing on robust mental preparation routines, emotional regulation under pressure, and recovery strategies. “Winning medals involves many factors, some of which are out of the athletes’ control. What I do help with is making sure that they can perform to their fullest potential and to deal with stressors and distractions in an effective and timely manner,” explains Harry.

In 2021, Harry transitioned to Sport Singapore (SportSG) as a Senior Sports Psychologist. His extensive experience at NYSI prepared him well for this role, allowing him to work with senior elite athletes. Over the past 2.5 years, he has facilitated breakthroughs in athletes’ performances and mindsets, contributing to significant achievements, including medals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. “It’s in the discovery process of doing so which has helped them to attain certain major sporting achievements such as world championship titles, success at international events, and medals at the 2022 Asian Games,” Harry reflects.

The NYSI Mental Skills Toolkit which was designed in 2019. Photo Credit : Harry Lim

Reflecting on his decade-long career in sports psychology, Harry aspires to normalize psychological support among athletes and coaches in Singapore. He emphasizes the importance of community support for Team Singapore athletes, regardless of their results, and aims to elevate the profile and competency of sports psychology in the country. “High-performance sport is not an easy task and being on the medal winners’ podium takes tremendous effort. Athletes sacrifice and give up a lot to be on this path and that alone should be worthy of our support,” Harry emphasizes.

Harry’s journey since 2004 has afforded him the privilege of working with passionate and committed athletes, coaches, and colleagues. He feels honored to be part of the support teams that help Singaporean sports achieve international success. “I hope sport psychology support will be the norm among our athletes and coaches and that our local community will give their fullest support to TeamSG athletes regardless of their results,” he says.

(1st from Right) Dr Harry Lim with Team Singapore’s Bronze-medal winning shooting squad at the 2022 ISSF World Cup in Cairo. Photo Credit : Dr Harry Lim

Harry’s dedication to his field and his desire to inspire future practitioners are evident. “Through my work at SportSG, hopefully, we can develop and inspire future practitioners to contribute to sport in Singapore,” Harry concludes. With his extensive experience and passion for sports psychology, Harry Lim continues to be a driving force in the development and success of Singaporean athletes.