Читать книгу The Performance Mindset - Anthony J. Klarica - Страница 28

Research has found that being a finalist at World Junior Swimming Championships did not predict success at open world championships. Only 17 per cent of athletes were finalists at both juniors and opens; 83 per cent of open finalists were not represented at the junior finals. The factor that was found to have a positive impact on open performance was number of years at world championships.¹⁵

Based on my own experience, the finding that over 80 per cent of open swimming finalists were not represented at junior championship finals did not surprise me. Variation in physical growth during adolescence is only one variable that contributes to performance at all junior competitions, not just swimming. The impact of school and the development of different variables such as skills and fitness at different stages of growth can also impact both development and performance at junior levels. Support and encouragement to continue with a sport are also key factors.

Even with well‐developed programs in Australia in a range of sports, the transition to senior performance is not easy. The tennis and swimming data from the world stage presented are only two examples of this. How sports best support young people who choose either to leave or to stay in a sport beyond junior years becomes a critical factor. Certainly many sports need to improve in this space.