The lived experience of striving for Olympic gold : a qualitative study

Abstract

The study seeks to understand the lived experience of two young male Maltese sailors striving for gold at the Olympics. The Olympics take place every five years in a different nation each time and it is the pinnacle of competitive sports. Taking part in the Olympics is a tough yet prestigious experience which requires both mental and physical training, as well as the demanding requirements, commitments, sacrifices and hardships. The research method adopted in this dissertation was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in order to delve into the lives of these athletes and truly understand what they go through in order to reach the top. The results from this research conclude that there are many obstacles that an athlete has to endure in order to be the best, such as the challenge, commitment, team issues and physical and psychological training. Through these findings one may conclude that it’s through these obstacles, their passion for sailing and the whole adventure that can only be found within these lines, that attracts these athletes to strive for Olympic gold. A recommendation from this dissertation is that, anyone who is willing to compete in the Olympics needs to be fully dedicated and purely enjoy what they do.