Gould, D., Diffenback, K., & Moffett, A. (2002). Psychological characteristics and their development in Olympic champions. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 172-204.

US Olympic champions (N = 10), their coaches, and a significant other (parent, guardian) were interviewed. A number of psychological inventories were also administered.

Champions were characterized by the following.

• An ability to cope with and control anxiety.
• Confidence.
• Mental toughness/resiliency.
• Sport intelligence.
• An ability of focus and block distractions.
• Competitiveness.
• A hard-work ethic.
• An ability to set and achieve goals.
• Coachability.
• High levels of dispositional hope.
• Optimism.
• Adaptive perfectionism.

A number of individuals also influenced the athletes' psychological development, with the coach and family being particularly important.

Implication. These findings validated current knowledge of champion characteristics and development. Those characteristics are included in the Champions Characteristics Checklist.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.