The Impact of Traumatism on the Professional Aging: The Case of Elite Sports

Abstract

The article outlines the problem of traumatism, which is analyzed from the viewpoint of the socio-medical aspect. The peculiarities of the impact of traumatism on the professional sports career were revealed through the analysis of the elite athletes’ biographies (n = 296 respondents). The research was carried out applying the qualitative research design (biographical research). The assessment of life narratives of high-performance athletes performing on the world arena was carried out applying the criterion of traumatism and its impact on the athletes’ lives ( the athletes’ biographies are accessible through open-source Internet resources). The data obtained in the research framework revealed the possible trajectories of the impact of traumatism on the course of the professional sporting career: the process of career stagnation, professional success, the process of completion/ termination of a sporting career. The career stagnation was observed among all the respondents, which is predetermined by the rehabilitation process they had to go through. Based on the data obtained in the research framework, the conclusion can be drawn that reintegration into elite sports is primarily based on the resource potential of the athlete: the resources of the family/ the loved ones, the athlete’s own capacity, as well as the state support provision. The possible trajectories of professional aging were identified, namely, high resource capacity, the reduction/loss of resource capacity (disability), zeroing of resource capacity (lethal outcome). In addition, the data showed that the potential trajectory for the reintegration was usually identified within the two directions: firstly, sports and physical culture; secondly, other professional spheres. It should also be highlighted that professional aging puts forward the issues related to social security of high-performance athletes worldwide. Therefore, the issue of reviewing the reintegration criteria into the education system or professional and labour market upon the completion of the sporting career is of highest topicality provided that it would positively impact both the positive capacity of the population group and the prestige of high-performance sports worldwide. The research results allow drawing the conclusion that the accumulated resources in the course of building and implementing a professional sports career have a positive impact on the duration of the professional age of a representative of elite sports, in its turn, providing the possibility to easily adjust to the new life upon the completion of the sports career.