Aspects of Developmental Pathways toward World-Class Parasport

• Main Authors: Lise Storli (Author), Morten Andreas Aune (Author), Håvard Lorås (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2022-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/sports10080123; 2075-4663
• Keywords: para-athletes development; sport expertise; deliberate play; deliberate practice; developmental model of sport participation (DMSP); Sports; GV557-1198.995
• Source: Sports, Vol 10, Iss 8, p 123 (2022)

The developmental pathways of athletes with a physical disability into world-class parasport are much less researched and understood compared to able-bodied athletes' participation histories. The purpose of this study was to investigate the developmental pathways of para-athletes toward elite performance. Data from eight athletes with physical disabilities ranked among the top performers in Paralympics, World Championships, and/or European Championships were gathered. Thematic analysis of retrospective semi-structured interviews led to the identification of four themes. The findings showed the importance of early childhood sport-related encounters in a family environment followed by sampling of various organized and coach-led sports throughout the childhood period. The youth sport period was highly heterogenous, albeit with important transitions towards elite-level practice environments, competition, coaching, equipment adaptability and the first intentions of becoming an elite-level athlete. Throughout, significant contributions are attributed towards parents, friends, coaches, athletes, and others, towards fostering a sustained motivational climate focused on improvement and further progress. These findings could provide useful information to tailor developmental models towards elite-level performance in parasport.