Biography

Dr. Sarah Teetzel joined the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management as an Assistant Professor in 2009. She has studied the Olympic Games for over 20 years, beginning with her doctoral dissertation on Olympic eligibility rules, completed at the International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University, which received the Pierre de Coubertin prize from the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee.

A common thread amongst her research is a focus on applied ethical issues in sport, emphasizing the intersection of rules and values. Her research in sport ethics has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Her current research focuses on physical literacy and multisport participation, the inclusion of transgender athletes in sport, anti-racism in sport in Winnipeg, and the history and philosophy of the Olympic Winter Games. She currently collaborates with researchers on SSHRC-funded projects at the University of Toronto and the University of Winnipeg.


Having served as the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education) in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management from 2014 to 2021, she remains interested in academic integrity, curriculum development, and critical thinking pedagogy. At the University of Manitoba, she is a member of the Centre for Human Rights Research and the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, and she is a Fellow of St. John’s College. Beyond the University, she is a member of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), the North American Society for Sport History (NASSH), and the International Olympic Academy’s Scientific Committee.

Research areas

  • Sport ethics 
  • Olympic studies 
  • Doping and drug testing in sport 
  • Gender in sport 

Education

  • PhD (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario (2009)
  • Diploma in Ethics (Philosophy), University of Western Ontario (2005)
  • M.A. (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario (2004)
  • B.Sc. (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario (2002)

Courses taught

  • KPER 1500 Foundations of Physical Education and Kinesiology
  • KPER 4020 Philosophy of Physical Activity and Leisure
  • KPER 4100 Current Issues
  • KPER 4320 Sport and the Body
  • KIN 4060 Drugs and Ergogenic Aids in Sport

Publications

Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Articles:
Teetzel, S. (2022). Philosophical perspectives on doping sanctions and young athletes. Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, special section: Women in Anti-doping Sciences 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.841033


Teetzel, S., & Dichter H. (2021). Olympic history and legacy: New research in bidding for and hosting the Olympic Winter Games. The International Journal for the History of Sport,38 (13-14), 1299-1311. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2021.2010928


Dichter, H.L., & Teetzel, S. (2020). The Winter Olympics: A century of games on ice and snow. The International Journal for the History of Sport, 37 (13), 1215-1235. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2020.1866474


Teetzel, S. (2020). Allyship in elite women’s sport. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 14(4), 432-448. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2020.1775691


Public Scholarship:
Teetzel, S. (2023). To sample or specialize? Why does it matter long term? Fit is a Feminist Issue. https://fitisafeministissue.com/2023/04/20/to-sample-or-specialize-why-does-it-matter-long-term-guest-post/
 
Teetzel, S. (2022, February 18). Would adding a minimum age limit for the Olympic Games protect youth athletes from doping? The Conversation Canada. https://theconversation.com/would-adding-a-minimum-age-limit-for-the-olympic-games-protect-youth-athletes-from-doping-177432


Brown, C., Veisman, N., Chhibber, D., Praznik, J., Palmer, D.J., Mankewich, A., Strachan, L., Teetzel, S., & Wilkinson, L. (2021). Exploring experiences of racism and anti-racism in sport in Winnipeg: Final report. 123 pages. https://antiracisminsport.ca/research/


Book Chapters:
Teetzel, S. (2022). Intersections of gender, doping and sport: The shared implications of anti-doping and sex testing. In A. Henning & J. Andreasson (Eds.), Doping in Sport and Fitness (239-252). Emerald.


Teetzel, S. (2022). Musings on Olympia as muse. In. K. Georgiadis (Ed.), 30 Years Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students, 1993-2022 (167-171). Athens: International Olympic Academy.


Teetzel, S. (2021). Friendship as an Olympic value. In D. Gangas & K. Georgiadis (Eds.), Looking Towards the Future with Hope: 60th IOA Anniversary (155-164). Athens: International Olympic Academy.

Recent conference presentations and invited lectures

Teetzel, S. (2023). Roundtable on transgender athlete participation in sport. Women and Gender Studies et Recherches Féministes (WGSRF) conference at Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Congress. York University, May 27-June 3, 2023.
 
*Brown, C., *Teetzel, S., Strachan, L., Veisman, N., & Wilkinson, L. (2023). Fostering anti-racist attitudes in youth sport spaces: Findings from Winnipeg's Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign. PHE Canada National Conference, Charlottetown, PEI, May 6, 2023. (*Co-presenting authors).
 
*Teetzel, S., Gregg, M., Strachan, L., Trono, C., & Jurbala, P. (2023). Sampling, diversification, and multisport: Do activity behaviours as a youth matter long term? PHE Canada Research Forum, Charlottetown, PEI, May 4, 2023. (*presenting author)
 
Teetzel, S. (2022). Olympic education in the future. International Symposium on Olympic Education, hosted by the Beijing Institute for International Olympic Committee (BIIOS), Beijing, December 12, 2022.
 
Teetzel, S. (2022). Critical reflections on the governance of women athletes. North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, organized by Anna Posbergh & Sheree Bekker, also including Travers, Madeleine Pape, & Cheryl Cooky. Las Vegas, November 11, 2022.
 
Teetzel, S. (2022). Women’s sport or female sport? Terminological clarity at the expense of inclusion. North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, Las Vegas, November 10, 2022.

Graduate student supervison

Sarah supervises graduate students in the Master of Arts (Kinesiology and Recreation) degree and is eligible to supervise PhD students in the Applied Health Science (AHS) doctoral program.

Graduate students she has served as the primary supervisor for include:

  • Alyssa Cox,  MA thesis title: Sample or Specialize? Exploring Youth Sport Coaches’ Perspectives and Practices.
  • Mahdi Besharat, MA, thesis title: The Use of Performance-Enhancing Substances Amongst Recreational Gym Users: Investigating Prevalence, Knowledge, Risk Factors, and Attitudes Toward Doping.
  • Kate Nosworthy, MA, thesis title: Retired Elite Taekwondo Athletes’ Perceptions of the Responsibilities of their National Sports Organization Towards Reporting, Management, Prevention of Mental Health Issues.
  • Rae Hutton, MA, thesis title: Exploring the Effectiveness and Impact of the MHSAA Policy on Transgender Students: Learning from the Experiences of Trans- Youth in Manitoba High Schools.
  • Alixandra Krahn, MA, thesis title: Exploring Verbal and Mental Abuse within the Context of Coaching Elite Female Volleyball in Manitoba.
  • Dongwan He, MA, thesis title: The Impact of Recent Policy Revisions Addressing Doping and Gender Rules on Women Track and Field Student-Athletes in China.
  • Janice Tilly, MA, thesis title: The Impacts of Healthy School Culture on Early-Years Generalist Teachers.
  • Elizabeth Hardy, MA, thesis title: The Female Apologetic within Canadian Women’s Rugby.
  • Olivia Durst, MA, thesis title: Athletes’ Values, Attitudes and Justifications for the Doping Ban.

Students interested in pursuing a MA or PhD with Sarah, using philosophical or qualitative research methods, are encouraged to contact her at sarah.teetzel@umanitoba.ca to discuss options.