Modelling commitment and compensation: a case study of a 52-year-old masters athlete

Abstract

Masters Athletes (MAs) are a highly unique cohort who participate in competitive sport in adulthood. Understanding the factors facilitating one athlete’s personal commitment may illustrate the nature of adaptive strategies for remaining active in sport. In this case study, Andrew (pseudonym), a 52- year-old nationally ranked Canadian runner, provincially ranked squash player and regional cross-country skiing champion was interviewed about personal and social conditions facilitating his sport commitment and strategies he used to maintain elite performance. Andrew’s accounts were deductively analysed using the Sport Commitment Model(SCM) and the Model of Selective Optimisation with Compensation (MSOC). With respect to the SCM, Andrew committed to sport because he inherently enjoyed training and competing, benefited from social connections around sport, and was afforded opportunities to compete, travel to new places and feel youthful. With respect to the MSOC, Andrew sustained year-round activity by prioritising his sports and reducing his participation intensity in low-ranked activities before major competitions in other activities. Moreover, he increased his sport-specific practice, and used his knowledge and experience to alter his techniques and training to compensate for age-related losses. Results supported the aforementioned models for understanding why MAs remain committed and how they remain proficient in sport.