The infographic above is based on research by Collins et al., which looked at the differences and similarities between athletes who became super champions, those who became champions and those who didn’t quite make it (the “almosts”). It explores the different paths they took and the traits they may have had.
About the study
The study set out to examine which factors linked to “trauma” experiences in sport might, or might not, distinguish between high, medium and low achievers.
Young athletes’ real-world experiences rarely follow a straight line. There is growing recognition that facing and overcoming a degree of challenge is good for aspiring elite athletes, and should be recognised and used as part of their development. However, this “talent needs trauma” idea is sometimes misunderstood, with some research focusing too heavily, or incorrectly, on life and sporting challenges as a feature of effective talent development.
What stood out for us
For us, one of the biggest findings was the role of parents, although the infographic doesn’t show much of it. The parents of super champions were involved and encouraging, but in no way overbearing.
The super champions were also likely to have experienced failure along the way, and their journey was much rockier than you might expect. As parents, it’s tempting to step in and protect our children from negative experiences and failure, but these remain a vital part of learning.
Read the full paper or browse more of our research papers.
