An in-depth look at mental training through a narrative lens of 2012 Canadian Paralympic athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore - through in-depth narratives - the unique experiences of 2012 Canadian Paralympic athletes and the role mental training played leading up to, and during, the London 2012 Olympics. There has been limited research investigating the role that the psychological component plays among elite Paralympic athletes; especially within a Canadian context. Four athletes who competed for Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games were interviewed through the use of semi-structured, exploratory interviews.  Interviews were transcribed and written-up as in-depth narratives that weaved through the athletes’ unique, experiences. The interviews were first analyzed individually for themes and then compared and contrasted across all four. The results were discussed under three major themes. The first theme explored the overall attitudes the athletes had towards mental training and sport psychology.  The second theme discussed the role mental training played off the court for these particular athletes. The third theme that emerged was with regards to the implementation of mental training with a proactive versus a reactive approach. Suggestions for future research include exploring the relationship between a sport psychologist and coach and how the two can work together to effectively implement mental training. Additionally, implementing mental training with a proactive versus a reactive approach may have a differential impact on athlete performance and thus should also be investigated.