METAPHORICAL PERCEPTIONS OF CURLING ATHLETES TOWARDS THEIR FIELD OF SPORT

This research aims to determine the metaphorical perceptions of curling athletes regarding their sport. The study employs a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design. The research group consists of 60 athletes, including 36 women and 24 men, competing in the 2023-2024 Season Turkey 2nd League promotion matches. Data collected through semi-structured interviews were analyzed using content analysis methods. In the data collection process, each athlete was given a personal information form and asked to complete the sentence: "Curling is like……….; because it…………." The data analysis followed the stages of naming, elimination, category development, ensuring validity and reliability, calculating the frequencies of the obtained metaphors, and interpreting them. As a result, the obtained metaphors were dimensioned into four categories. These categories are "Development," "Relaxing Element," "Life," and "Social Environment," with the most frequently produced metaphors identified as life, future, and entertainment.