Retirement from elite sports: Key factors shaping athletes' transition to post-sport life in the Czech Republic

This study, as part of the research work within the EEIG EU/P-Kr/06.12/23 project Are Elite Athletes Good Project Managers?, focusses on the process of elite sports career termination and the subsequent adaptation of athletes to post-sport life. The objective is to identify key factors that influence this transition and to analyse their impact on the quality of life of former elite athletes in the Czech Republic. Materials and Methods: The research is based on a previous study made by Kadlčík[1] and uses a sequential mixed-methods design that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the first phase, semi-structured interviews with 20 former elite athletes provided a deeper understanding of the issue. Based on these insights and international studies, two hypotheses were formulated for the second phase, in which 200 respondents were surveyed using a standard questionnaire. Results: The findings indicate that planned and voluntary career termination is positively correlated with successful adaptation. Key facilitating factors include transferable skills and effective coping strategies. Conversely, a strong athletic identity and nonacceptance of career termination acted as barriers. Conclusion: An adaptation to post-sport life is a highly individual process influenced by a wide range of variables. The study highlights the need for targeted support for athletes during this transition, highlighting the development of transferable skills and psychological preparation.