Narrative study into the sports experience of national elite physically disadvantaged team member and their psychological maturity

The purpose of this study is intended to grasp the lives of national elite physically disadvantaged athletes. The author of this study, while being engaged in this academic pursuit, posed 2 fundamental questions. One question is ‘How do the national elite physically disadvantaged athletes speak of their own experience they garnered at their training sites, stadiums and other venues wherein they practice and perform their sports?’ Another question, which author posed during his course of study, is ‘What kind of significance do the narratives of these members have, in particular, the narrative they speak of in regards to the experience they garnered? For the sake of better comprehending the lives of the national elite physically disadvantaged team members, the author interviewed 3 national elite physically disadvantaged team members and employed the narrative inquiry study method, with which the author was able to get a better picture of his audience. The author was able to engage with, gather, analyze and reorganize the lives of these members as they were sharing their stories about their life as a national elite physically disadvantaged team member, with which the author was able to remake and convey their stories in a way that evidently show that the significant events, turning points and milestones in their life had great influence on them, which prompted them to become more mature in all aspects of life. The author of the study incessantly contemplated throughout this research about the identity and the purpose of life, which also led him to ponder about the national elite physically disadvantaged team members he was engaged with. ‘What is their identity as athletes? What are the significant events that led them to mature? What are the things they can do with their experience in the realm of sports and culture? The author of this study followed his train of thought and was able to realize that they were able to mature even in hard times during when they were clouded with despair and doubt. This study also served as a great opportunity to the author himself as he got a broader picture about the life of the physically disadvantaged athletes and their life and will take this life lesson to heart so as to approach them better.