Postponed Olympic Dreams: High-Performance Athletes’ Experience in Coping with Postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Alfermann, D., & Stambulova, N. (2007). Career transitions and career termination. In G. Tenenbaum, & R. C. Eklund (Eds), Handbook of sport psychology (3rd ed., pp. 712–736). Wiley. Search in Google Scholar

Arnold, R., Fletcher, D., & Daniels, K. (2013). Development and validation of the organizational stressor indicator for sport performers (OSI-SP). Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35(2), 180–196. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.2.180 Search in Google Scholar

Arnold, R., Fletcher, D., & Daniels, K. (2017). Organisational stressors, coping, and outcomes in competitive sport. Journal of sports sciences, 35(7), 694–703. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1184299 Search in Google Scholar

Arnold, R., & Sarkar, M. (2015). Preparing athletes and teams for the Olympic Games: Experiences and lessons learned from the world’s best sport psychologists. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 4–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2014.932827 Search in Google Scholar

Birrer, D., Wertzel, J., Schmid, J., & Morgan, G. (2012). Analysis of sport psychology consultancy at three Olympic Games: Facts and figures. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13(5), 702–710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.04.008 Search in Google Scholar

Brown, C. J., Webb, T. L., Robinson, M. A., & Cotgreave, R. (2018). Athletes’ experiences of social support during their transition out of elite sport: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.01.003 Search in Google Scholar

Bowes, A., Lomax, L., & Piasecki, J. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on elite sportswomen. Managing Sport and Leisure, 27(6), 513–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1825988 Search in Google Scholar

Brewster, A. L., Curry, L. A., Cherlin, E. J., Talbert-Slagle, K., Horwitz, L. I., & Bradley, E. H. (2015). Integrating new practices: A qualitative study of how hospital innovations become routine. Implementation Science, 10, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-015-0357-3 Search in Google Scholar

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Search in Google Scholar

Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Weate, P. (2016). Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In B. Smith, & A. C. Sparkes (Eds), Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise (pp. 191–205). Routledge. Search in Google Scholar

Brown, C. J., Webb, T. L., Robinson, M. A., & Cotgreave, R. (2018). Athletes’ experiences of social support during their transition out of elite sport: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.01.003 Search in Google Scholar

Chen, H. Y., & Boore, J. R. (2010). Translation and backtranslation in qualitative nursing research: Methodological review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19 (1–2), 234–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02896.x Search in Google Scholar

Cosh, S., & Tully, P. J. (2015). Stressors, coping, and support mechanisms for student athletes combining elite sport and tertiary education: Implications for practice. The Sport Psychologist, 29(2), 120–133. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2014-0102 Search in Google Scholar

Cosma, G., Chiracu, A., Stepan, R., Cosma, A., Nanu, C., & Pǎunescu, C. (2020). Impact of coping strategies on sport performance. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 20(3), 1380–1385. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.03190 Search in Google Scholar

Diehl, R., Poczwardowski, A., Stambulova, N., O’Neil, A., & Haberl, P. (2019). Transitioning to and thriving at the Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs: Phases of an adaptive transition. Sport in Society, 23(4), 678–696. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2019.1600299 Search in Google Scholar

Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics. Oxford University Press. Search in Google Scholar

Drewes, M., Daumann, F., & Follert, F. (2020). Exploring the sports economic impact of COVID-19 on professional soccer. Soccer & Society, 22(1–2), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2020.1802256 Search in Google Scholar

Elbardan, H., & Kholeif, A. O. (2017). An interpretive approach for data collection and analysis. In A. Kholeif, & H. Elbardan (Eds), Enterprise resource planning, corporate governance and internal auditing (pp. 111–165). Palgrave Macmillan. Search in Google Scholar

Ferreira, J. G., Rodrigues, F., Sobreiro, P., Silva, M., Santos, F. J., Carvalho, G., Mendo, A. H., & Rodrigues, J. (2024). Social support, network, and relationships among coaches in different sports: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, article 1301978. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1301978 Search in Google Scholar

Fletcher, D., & Wagstaff, C. R. (2009). Organizational psychology in elite sport: Its emergence, application and future. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(4), 427–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.03.009 Search in Google Scholar

Gallego, V., Nishiura, H., Sah, R., & Rodriguez-Morales, A. J. (2020). The COVID-19 outbreak and implications for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 34, article 101604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101604 Search in Google Scholar

Gupta, S., & McCarthy, P. J. (2021). Sporting resilience during COVID-19: What is the nature of this adversity and how are competitive elite athletes adapting? Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 611261. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611261 Search in Google Scholar

Henriksen, K. (2015). Developing a high-performance culture: A sport psychology intervention from an ecological perspective in elite orienteering. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 6(3), 141–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2015.1084961 Search in Google Scholar

Henriksen, K., Stambulova, N., & Roessler, K. K. (2010). Holistic approach to athletic talent development environments: A successful sailing milieu. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11, 212–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.10.005 Search in Google Scholar

Hong, H. J., & Coffee, P. (2018). A psycho-educational curriculum for sport career transition practitioners: Development and evaluation. European Sport Management Quarterly, 18(3), 287–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2017.1387925 Search in Google Scholar

Hong, H. J., & Minikin, B. (2023). An international analysis of career assistance programmes for high-performance athletes. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 15(4), 705–724. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2023.2242873 Search in Google Scholar

Horky, T. (2021). No sports, no spectators – no media, no money? The importance of spectators and broadcasting for professional sports during COVID-19. Soccer & Society, 22(1–2), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2020.1790358 Search in Google Scholar

Katagami, E., & Tsuchiya, H. (2016). Effects of social support on athletes’ psychological well-being: The correlations among received support, perceived support, and personality. Psychology, 7(13), 1741. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.713163 Search in Google Scholar

Katagami, E., & Tsuchiya, H. (2017). Effects of received social support on athletes’ psychological well-being. International Journal of Sport and Health Science, 15, 72–80. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.713163 Search in Google Scholar

Lavallee, D., Park, S., & Taylor, J. (2014). Career transition among athletes: Is there life after sports? In J. Williams, & V. Krane (Eds), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (pp. 490–509). McGraw-Hill. Search in Google Scholar

Mallett, C. J., & Tinning, R. (2014). Philosophy of knowledge. In L. Nelson, R. Groom, & P. Potrac (Eds), Research methods in sports coaching (pp. 9–17). Routledge. Search in Google Scholar

Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2006). Designing qualitative research. Sage. Search in Google Scholar

McArdle, S., McGale, N., & Gaffney, P. (2012). A qualitative exploration of men’s experiences of an integrated exercise/CBT mental health promotion programme. International Journal of Men’s Health, 11(3), 240–257. https://doi.org/10.3149/jmh.1103.240 Search in Google Scholar

Morris, R., Tod, D., & Eubank, M. (2017). From youth team to first team: An investigation into the transition experiences of young professional athletes in soccer. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 15(5), 523–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1152992 Search in Google Scholar

Nuetzel, B. (2023). Coping strategies for handling stress and providing mental health in elite athletes: A systematic review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, article 1265783. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1265783 Search in Google Scholar

Oblinger-Peters, V., & Krenn, B. (2020). “Time for recovery” or “utter uncertainty”? The postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games through the eyes of Olympic athletes and coaches. A qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, article 610856. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.610856 Search in Google Scholar

Park, S., & Lavallee, D. (2015). Roles and influences of Olympic athletes’ entourages in athletes’ preparation for career transition out of sport. Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, 11(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpssepr.2015.11.1.3 Search in Google Scholar

Park, S., Lavallee, D., & Tod, D. (2013). Athletes’ career transition out of sport: A systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 6, 22–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2012.687053 Search in Google Scholar

Poucher, Z. A., Tamminen, K. A., & Kerr, G. (2018). Providing social support to female Olympic athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 40(4), 217–228. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0008 Search in Google Scholar

Samuel, R. D., Tenenbaum, G., & Galily, Y. (2020). The 2020 coronavirus pandemic as a change-event in sport performers’ careers: Conceptual and applied practice considerations. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, article 567966https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.567966 Search in Google Scholar

Saumure, K., & Given, L. M. (2008). Convenience sample. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods, 2, 124.–125. Search in Google Scholar

Schinke, R. J., Giffin, C., Cosh, S., Douglas, K., Rhind, D., Har-wood, C., Si, G., & Papaiounnou, A. (2022). International society of sport psychology position stand: Mental health through occupational health and safety in high performance sport. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20(6), 1711–1733. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1992857 Search in Google Scholar

Schinke, R., Papaioannou, A., Maher, C., Parham, W. D., Larsen, C. H., Gordin, R., & Cotterill, S. (2020). Sport psychology services to professional athletes: Working through COVID-19. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(4), 409–413. Search in Google Scholar

Smith, B., & Caddick, N. (2012). Qualitative methods in sport: A concise overview for guiding social scientific sport research. Asia Pacific Journal of Sport and Social Science, 1(1), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640599.2012.701373 Search in Google Scholar

Schinke, R. J., Stambulova, N. B., Trepanier, D., & Oghene, O. (2015). Psychological support for the Canadian Olympic Boxing Team in meta-transitions through the National Team Program. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 74–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2014.959982 Search in Google Scholar

Sparkes, A. (1992). Research In Physical Educ. & Sp. Routledge-Falmer. Search in Google Scholar

Stambulova, N. (2011). The mobilization model of counseling athletes in crisis-transitions: An educational intervention tool. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 2(3), 156–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2011.598223 Search in Google Scholar

Stambulova, N., Alfermann, D., Statler, T., & Côte, J. (2009). ISSP position stand: Career development and transitions of athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 7(4), 395–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2009.9671916 Search in Google Scholar

Stambulova, N. B., Ryba, T. V., & Henriksen, K. (2021). Career development and transitions of athletes: The International Society of Sport Psychology position stand revisited. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 19(4), 524–550. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2020.1737836 Search in Google Scholar

Stambulova, N. B., Schinke, R. J., Lavallee, D., & Wylleman, P. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic and olympic/paralympic athletes’ developmental challenges and possibilities in times of a global crisis-transition. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20(1), 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2020.1810865 Search in Google Scholar

Surujlal, J. (2016). Influence of organizational support on retirement planning and financial management of professional soccer players. Polish Journal of Management Studies, 13(2), 164–174. https://doi.org/10.17512/pjms.2016.13.2.16 Search in Google Scholar

Wagstaff, C. R., & Burton-Wylie, S. (2018). Organizational culture in sport: A conceptual, definitional, and methodological review. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 14(2), 32–52. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpssepr.2018.14.2.32 Search in Google Scholar

Wylleman, P. (2019). A developmental and holistic perspective on transitioning out of elite sport. In M. H. Anshel (Ed.), APA handbook of sport and exercise psychology: Sport psychology (vol 1, pp. 201–216). American Psychological Association. Search in Google Scholar

Wylleman, P. (2024). Psychological support for Olympic athletes. In N. Pattyn, & R. Hauffa (Eds.), Handbook of Mental Performance: Lessons from High Performance Domains (pp. 339–346). Routledge. Search in Google Scholar

Vaishya, R. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and the Olympic Games. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, 11(3), S281–S282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcot.2020.05.019 Search in Google Scholar

Zamora-Solé, R., Alcaraz, S., Regüela, S., & Torregrossa, M. (2022). Experiences of Olympic hopefuls of the disruption of the Olympic cycle at Tokyo 2020. Apunts Educación Física y Deportes, 148, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2022)148.01 Search in Google Scholar