Other Endeavors
In July 1994 Lardon continued his clinical studies in athletic peak performance during his fellowship in Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology at UCSD. After his fellowship he started his career as a sports psychiatrist on the PGA Tour, first helping Kemper Open champion Mike Springer. In 2001 Lardon was contacted by James Bauman, Senior Sports Psychologist at the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, to evaluate U.S. Olympic skeleton hopeful Jimmy Shea who had been referred to him for the treatment of depression. Jimmy Shea won the Olympic gold medal in the skeleton in 2001. Immediately after winning Olympic gold medal Shea pulled out a picture card of his grandfather, Jack Shea (two-time Olympic speed skating champion) and held the picture up for the National and International media in celebration of his victory. In Guidepost magazine Shea credits Dr. Lardon for giving the suggestion of taking his grandfather’s photo and putting it in his helmet on the day of the race. After the 2002 Olympics, Jimmy Shea and Dr. Lardon’s work together was chronicled in an article in Sports Illustrated magazine, they then went on a public relations tour, sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Wyeth-Ayerst focusing on the destigmatization of depression in men.
Lardon continued to work with a number of Olympic athletes, including the 2004 Olympic Silver medalist in Crew, Samantha MaGee; the 2006 Olympic team captain of the men’s four-man bobsled, Steve Holcomb; and the 2004 400-meter hurdler Brenda Taylor. He continued his work with the Olympic athletes while refocusing on golfers. He is known to have worked with the 2000 British Open champion, David Duval; the 2002 PGA champion, Rich Beem; and the 2005 U.S. Open champion, Michael Campbell. He has since authored numerous academic articles relating to sports, including the “Sports Psychiatrist and Golf", and “Performance Enhancing Drugs: Where Should the Line Be Drawn and By Whom?" He has also provided sports psychiatry services for the NFLs San Diego Chargers 2005 Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding.
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