REACHING FOR GOLD AND THE PRICE OF GLORY - A MOTIVATIONAL CASE-STUDY OF AN ELITE GYMNAST

The present investigation is a qualitative case study of a former elit e gymnast. The social cognitive approach to achievement motivation has been applied to understand and explain the behavior of this gymnast, her coaches, and her parents. The gymnast participated in three unstru ctured interviews which were grounded in a feminist view of sport and research (cf. Harding, 1991; Krane, 1994). The data analysis resulted in three dimensions: Motivational Climate, Evidence of an Ego Orientat ion, and Correlates of Ego involvement. An ego-involved motivational e nvironment was developed and reinforced by the gymnast's coaches and p arents. Her ego-involved goal orientation was revealed through her rel iance on social comparison, emphasis on external feedback and rewards, need to demonstrate her superiority, and acting out behaviors in the fade of adversity. This gymnast practiced and competed while seriously injured, employed unhealthy eating practices, overtrained, and refuse d to listen to medical advice in order to continue her quest towards t he Olympic team. All of these behaviors are discussed within the frame work of goal orientation theory.