Successful Stories of Top Paralympic Swimmers from Their First Encounter with Swimming

Abstract

Although there are some reports of the trajectory of swimmers becoming elite athletes, there are no reports on Para-Swimmers. In this study, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with Japanese elite Para-Swimmers (seven men and three women) who participated in the Paralympics since the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. As a result of the analysis, the background of the Para-swimmers identified three factors : places of practice, coaching, and participation in competition. Furthermore, each factor could be divided three periods as follows : (1) infancy, (2) junior high school and high school, (3) university and society. Analysis of the trajectory of Para-Swimmers revealed some important opportunities that were held in common. They were : to exercise with healthy people from an early age, to meet with leaders who drew out their abilities, and to participate in competition from an early stage when they were able to notice their abilities. As coaches, it is important to teach skills, as well as to create a pool environment that enables people to practice swimming regardless of age or disability. In addition, many results were obtained from this study that show that the order of these activities will play an important role in the community and social contribution promoted through swimming.