Research Thursday: What Makes Sports Meaningful? Lessons from Olympic Athletes
THE STUDY: Self-actualization and self-transcendence: An empirical model of athletes’ meaning in elite sport
Oblinger-Peters, V., Henriksen, K., Küttel, A., & Ronkainen, N. J. (2026). Self-actualization and self-transcendence: An empirical model of athletes' meaning in elite sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 85, Article 103149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103149
One of the things I find most enjoyable about working with athletes is helping them make meaning of their experiences—not just reflecting on their performances.
It's easy for athletes to become consumed by outcomes, rankings, statistics, and the next goal — and I understand why! So much of sport is results-driven. But what I also know is that some of the most meaningful and lasting parts of the athletic journey often have very little to do with outcomes.
That's why I was so interested in this week's study!
Researchers interviewed Olympic athletes over several years to better understand how they experience purpose, fulfillment, and meaning in sport and life. What they found offers valuable insights not only for athletes, but for anyone pursuing ambitious goals.
Let’s jump into it!
What Did the Researchers Set Out to Study?
Researchers wanted to understand what makes sport feel meaningful and what causes athletes to lose that sense of meaning. Their goal was to develop a better understanding of how athletes experience purpose, fulfillment, and wellbeing.
Who Participated?
The study followed 13 Olympic athletes from North America, Europe, and Oceania over approximately two and a half years. Participants ranged in age from 21 to 37 and included several Olympic and World Championship medalists.
What Was The Research Process?
This was a qualitative study, meaning the researchers used interviews rather than focusing on numerical data. Researchers conducted 27 in-depth interviews (2-3 per athlete), exploring athletes' experiences of sport, identity, relationships, challenges, goals, and purpose.
What Did They Find?
After analyzing and comparing the interview responses, the researchers identified two primary sources of meaning:
1. Meaning Through Personal Growth (“Self-Actualization”)
Athletes experienced meaning when they felt:
Competent and capable
Free to make their own choices
Connected to their goals
Challenged to grow and develop
Many athletes described sport as meaningful because it gave them opportunities to learn, improve, overcome challenges, and pursue their potential. Several talked about finding meaning in the process of mastering new skills, pushing through adversity, and becoming stronger versions of themselves.
Interestingly, athletes often lost their sense of meaning when their worth became tied exclusively to results, particularly when that pressure came from governing bodies, coaches, or sport organizations. When success, rankings, or external validation became the primary measure of value, many reported feeling frustrated, discouraged, or disconnected from their sport.
2. Meaning Through Connection and Contribution (“Self Transcendence”)
Athletes also experienced meaning when they:
Built strong relationships
Belonged to a community
Mentored younger athletes
Contributed to something larger than themselves
For many athletes, these sources of meaning became increasingly important over time. They spoke about supporting teammates, inspiring younger athletes, giving back to their sport, and using their platform to make a positive impact. Relationships with teammates, coaches, family members, and the broader sport community were consistently described as important sources of meaning.
I thought one of the most interesting findings was that meaning wasn't found exclusively in achievement or exclusively in service to others. Instead, the athletes who seemed to thrive were able to hold both: pursuing excellence while also maintaining relationships, purpose, and connection beyond the scoreboard.
How Can We Use This Information?
One of the things I appreciate most about this study is that it gives us a clear, easy framework for opening meaningful conversations with athletes.
Simply educating athletes about these two identified pathways to meaning can be powerful. Many athletes spend years focused almost exclusively on achievement without realizing that relationships, contribution, belonging, and purpose are also important and lasting sources of fulfillment.
This research invites athletes to reflect on questions such as:
What parts of my sport help me grow as a person?
What gives me a sense of purpose beyond performance?
How do relationships contribute to my experience as an athlete?
What impact do I want to have on others through sport?
If results were removed from the equation, what would still make this meaningful and worthwhile?
As therapists, coaches, parents, and mentors, we can create opportunities for athletes to explore these questions through conversation, journaling, values work, narrative exercises, and reflection activities.
The goal isn't to diminish the importance of performance or achievement. Rather, it's to help athletes build a broader foundation of meaning—one that can support them through all the highs and lows of their sport.
After all, athletics is about more than what we accomplish. It's also about who we become along the way!
Keep the Conversation Going
Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or former athlete reflecting on your own journey, I hope this research gave you something to think about!
If you'd like support navigating the mental and emotional side of sport, I'd be honored to help. Feel free to explore my Athlete Counseling page or schedule a free 15-minute consultation call to explore working with me.