LIFE AFTER WINNING GOLD - II - COPING WITH CHANGE AS AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST

The experiences of 18 Olympic gold medallists from Australia are analy zed relative to the changes effected by their Olympic wins. Specifical ly, the effect an Olympic win has on subsequent athletic performance i s addressed as are athletes' strategies for coping with changes faced after winning a gold medal and recommendations for future Olympic cham pions. Athletes perceived that both preparation and focus for subseque nt competitions were affected by an Olympic win and saw most of these changes as negative influences. Athletes' coping strategies were simil ar to those reported by other elite athletes. Recommendations for help ing prepare elite athletes for the changes associated with high-level athletic success are discussed.