The development of mental toughness: A journey into the perceptions and experiences of a world-class padel athlete

• Mental toughness seems to be a trainable and developing characteristic rather than a fixed trait. • Training environments should structure and optimize psychological support and social influences as they are determinant for mental toughness’s developmental process. • Coaches should focus on creating confidence-building environments and providing constructive feedback, while psychologists should integrate long-term mental skills, training to empower mental toughness development. • Adversities are valuable experiences to develop mental toughness. This study retrospectively explored the developmental factors underlying mental toughness in a world-class female padel athlete, examining how it evolved throughout her elite sport career. Using a case study approach, data were collected through a semi-structured interview organised around four stages (early years, middle years, professional years, and maintenance years) and informed by established models of athlete development and mental toughness. Data were analysed using a combined deductive and inductive approach. The findings highlight the athlete’s early adoption of mental skills and routines, the significant impact of sport psychology support, and the ongoing motivational influence of parents and coaches. Balancing academic and elite sport demands involved substantial sacrifices, which the athlete described as important for developing mental toughness. She also explained how key moments, both positive and negative, contributed to strengthening resilience over time. Overall, the results suggest that mental toughness is dynamic and shaped by context, developing through ongoing interactions between individual, social, and environmental factors rather than a fixed trait. The findings also support the view that mental toughness can be trained and developed over time, and underline the value of structured psychological support, social influences, and how athletes cope with adversity in elite sport.