The Role of Injury in the Formation of Athletic Identity among Elite Adolescent Athletes

The aim of this thesis is to understand the process of sport identity formation among young elite athletes with an experience of injury, within the context of Czech sport culture, where this topic has received little attention so far. The study explores how athletes interpret their injury experience, how they integrate it into their self-concept, and which psychosocial factors influence their emotional experience and coping process. The theoretical part summarizes existing research on the psychological aspects of sports injuries, transformations of athletic identity, and the roles of coping strategies, motivation, social support and other psychosocial factors during and after injury. The empirical part employs a qualitative design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and is based on semi-structured interviews with six elite athletes aged 15-18 who have experienced injury. The analysis focuses on how injury affects their sense of self as athletes, their decisions about continuing or ending their sports careers, and the ways they integrate this experience into their personal athletic narratives. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological impact of injury and the process of athletic identity formation. The results may help coaches, psychologists, and parents...