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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
This research examined the experiences of eight Portuguese (former) elite athletes from a social scientific
perspective. In so doing it attempted to move away from the tentacles of achievement sport and, in particular, the
performance efficiency model that dominates elite sport. Rather, it focused on the subjective and qualitative
experiences of sportspeople themselves and gave them a forum to reflect upon the primary socializing agents
that played a key role in their sporting success, and on the peaks and troughs on their journeys to sporting
success, nationally and internationally. The research design included semi-structured interviews with athletes
that excelled in athletics, handball, gymnastics, korfball and swimming. All eight had achieved outstanding
results nationally and internationally. A qualitative approach was adopted for data collection and analysis.
Giving voice to the former athletes themselves revealed much about: the primary socializing agents for sport in
their lives, as young, teenage and adult athletes; those role models and mentors that influenced their initial and
ongoing involvement and specialization in sport, these being the family (usually parents), physical education
teachers and peers; and, finally, the peaks and troughs in their careers which usually hinged around sporting
success or defeat, failure to achieve expected results, and the onset and impact of injury. Taken together, these
findings reverberate with those of other researchers beyond the Lusophone world. They also indicate the
emergence and development of a sports ethic in Portugal despite the comparatively late entry of that country into
the global sporting arms race.
Description
Keywords
sports ethic elite sport critical moments Portugal qualitative research
Citation
Pereira, A.; Pinheiro, M.; Carvalhinho, L.; Sequeira, P.; Resende, R. & Liston, K. (2016). Journeys of Portuguese athletes to sporting success: the peaks and troughs. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 16(2), 397-406. doi:10.7752/jpes.2016.02062