Abstract
In the field of sports science, very little research has focused on social support. In this study we investigated the relationship between athlete identity and performance in competitive university swimmers. We also identified the factors that define athlete identity and investigated the influence of social support. The study subjects were 70 university swimmers (male: 64, female: 6) who responded to athlete identity and social support scales in a questionnaire format. The results of a covariance structure analysis showed the goodness of fit and validity of a model of the athlete identity formation process that affects athletic performance. The study findings show that athlete identity affects performance and that emotional and social support from important others helps to define athlete identity as a competitive swimmer. These results may be important data in future investigations of the performance of competitive swimmers.
