Life After a Sports Career: the Case of Polish Ex-fencers

• Authors: Agata Kucharska , Stanisław Witold Kłopot
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The present study focuses on the issue of the achievement of stability in life by former amateur fencers in the context of post-communist Polish society. The main aim of the study was an analysis of non-sport spheres of life of former fencers, such as occupation, material situation, family life, and health. The sample consisted of 51 former Polish fencers. A diagnostic survey was conducted with the use of the questionnaire technique. It was revealed that the subjects successfully achieved social stability after they retired from sports. However, since they had been amateur athletes, they had been forced to choose appropriate strategies and actions during their sports careers to ensure professional, economic, and family stability in their future lives. Those who experienced difficulties in combining the role of athlete with other social roles were most often forced to give up fencing. The former fencers observe a multidirectional impact of sports on all aspects of their lives.

Keywords

EN

ex-athletes; sports retirement; sports career; post-communism; fencers

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 61-75

Dates

published

1 - 06 - 2013

online

05 - 06 - 2013

Contributors

author

Agata Kucharska

• University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland 2 University of Wroclaw, Poland

author

Stanisław Witold Kłopot

• University of Wroclaw, Poland

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/pcssr-2013-0015