Background/Purpose Current research has found no developmental differences between elite and sub-elite athletes based on training (Johnson et al., 2008). One area suggested for future research of elite athletes was during world-class competition. To date, few studies have focused on the elite athlete's actions within these parameters; none of those provided the meaning given to the actions by elite athletes. The purpose of this study was to identify the actions that elite athletes undertake on a competition day that they believe are critical to their success and to understand the meaning of these actions.
Method Five Olympic champion male swimmers from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games participated in a three-stage data collection: an initial interview during a two-day training visit, a competition observation at an elite meet, and a follow-up interview via telephone. Additionally, the participant's coaches were interviewed regarding their swimmer's actions during competition. All interviews were semi-structured and digitally recorded. Interview transcriptions and expanded field notes were analyzed for emergent themes. Method and data triangulation provided trustworthiness.
Analysis/Results Utilizing constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006), the present study identified critical actions, or attributes, of a competition-day routine. Five attributes of a competition-day routine emerged: flexibility, adaptation, automaticity, time management, and skill acquisition. Each attribute was significant both as individual characteristics and when interacting.
Conclusions This study found elite athletes use a flexible, adaptive, automatic, and organized competition-day routine during elite competition.
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