The document discusses the transition of Paralympic athletes from active sport to post-sport life, highlighting the lack of empirical research in this area compared to non-disabled athletes. It aims to map existing literature on para-athlete career pathways and identify knowledge gaps while providing directions for service providers. The findings emphasize the unique challenges faced by paralympians, including different career pathways and reasons for leaving sport, warranting further engagement and research.

1. PREPARING
FOR
RIO?
OR
PREPARING
FOR
POST-­‐RIO?
PARALYMPIC
ATHLETES
AND
TRANSITIONS
OUT
OF
SPORT
ANDREA
BUNDON,
PHD
PROFESSOR
VICKY
GOOSEY-­‐TOLFREY
The
Peter
Harrison
Centre
for
Disability
Sport
Loughborough
University,
UK

2. DISCUSSION
FINDINGS
METHODS
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The
English
InsKtute
of
Sport
(EIS)
is
a
significant
provider
of
sport
science
and
sport
management
services
to
athletes
represenKng
Great
Britain
§ Performance
Lifestyle
advisors
provide
services
that
support
lifestyles
conducive
to
opKmal
performance
§ This
includes
mentoring
athletes
at
transiKonal
stages
in
athleKc
careers
§ Also
includes
supporKng
athletes
in
their
transiKons
from
‘in
sport’
to
‘out
of
sport’

3. DISCUSSION
FINDINGS
METHODS
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Mainstreaming
of
disability
sport
means
same
services
are
now
provided
to
elite
para-­‐athletes
§ There
is
no
empirical
research
into
the
out
of
sport
transiKons
of
disabled
athletes
§ Performance
Lifestyle
advisers’
pracKce
is
guided
by
research
conducted
exclusively
with
non-­‐disabled
athletes

4. DISCUSSION
FINDINGS
METHODS
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
PURPOSE
Purpose
1:
Map
the
exisKng
literature
on
para-­‐athlete
career
pathways
idenKfying
the
sources
of
evidence
currently
available
as
well
as
gaps
in
knowledge.
Purpose
2:
Provide
service
providers
with
specific
direcKons
for
further
inquiry.

5. DISCUSSION
FINDINGS
METHODS
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
METHODS
Scoping
survey
§ SystemaKc
search
of
databases,
reference
lists
and
key
journals
§ Topics:
Paralympic
athletes,
career
transiKons,
reKrement,
educaKon
and
employment
§ Studies
synthesized
and
interpreted
using
a
descripKve-­‐
analyKcal
method

6. DISCUSSION
FINDINGS
METHODS
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
Literature
on
psycho-­‐sociological
aspects
of
disability
sport
including:
§ Robust
and
addresses
stress,
coping
and
emoKon
of
Paralympic
athletes
Literature
on
reKrement
of
Paralympic
athletes
§ While
many
have
indicated
need
for
further
work
and
speculated
there
is
no
empirical
work
following
the
out
of
sport
transiKon
of
Paralympic
athletes

7. DISCUSSION
FINDINGS
METHODS
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
DISCUSSION
§ Paralympians
may
have
different
pathways
into
elite
sport
compared
to
non-­‐disabled
athletes
(o^en
later
start
and
different
employment
history)
§ There
are
reasons
for
leaving
sport
unique
to
Paralympic
athletes
(changes
in
classificaKon,
changes
to
events
on
Paralympic
programme)
§ Engagement
with
reKred
para-­‐athletes
athletes
is
needed
to
understand
these
interacKons
and
provide
be_er
services
to
current
para-­‐athletes

8. Project
supported
by:
PREPARING
FOR
RIO?
OR
PREPARING
FOR
POST-­‐RIO?
PARALYMPIC
ATHLETES
AND
TRANSITIONS
OUT
OF
SPORT