Lessons from the Olympics : participants' perceptions of the 2000 games

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of South African athletes at the Olympic Games and to identify the possible factors that could have affected their performances. A sample of 44 participants at the 2000 Olympic Games completed a post-Olympic questionnaire. Although most athletes believed that they were adequately prepared, a large proportion (58%) did not meet their pre-Olympic expectations. A variety of factors such as team selection, the media, village life, distractions, and coaching behaviours were identified as possible factors that influenced performance. Suggestions based on these data are proposed for future Olympic teams.


(S. African J. for Research in Sport, Physical Ed. and Recreation: 2001 23 (1): 51-64)