American Athletes Research Articles

The Complex Challenges Faced by Asian American Athletes in International Sports

The Complex Challenges Faced by Asian American Athletes in International Sports

Prepare for impact of NCAA settlement

With previous setbacks in both O’Bannon v. NCAA and NCAA v. Alston, the NCAA and the Power Five conferences made a decision to shy away from their traditional aggressive stance when it came to litigating the latest legal challenge attacking their business model in House v. NCAA (No. 4:20‐cv‐03919, (N.D. Ca. 06/15/2020)). And so in May, the leaders in the Power Five (American Athletic Conference, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac‐12, and Southeastern Conference) ended up agreeing to settle the case. The multibillion‐dollar settlement, if approved by Senior District Judge Claudia Wilken — the same federal judge associated with both the Alston and O’Bannon cases — obliges the NCAA to pay out approximately $2.8 billion to former student‐athletes who had been prohibited from monetizing their name, image, and likeness prior to July 1, 2021.

Match-related activity profiles of youth female and male football players during World Cup classification tournaments and their relationship to body composition.

The activity profiles of football players during competition can be affected by the athletes' competitive level and sex. However, evidence of this in youth South American athletes is scarce as is the effects of body composition on match activity profiles. Therefore, the present study compared the activity profiles of Chilean under-20 (U20) and under-17 (U17) male and female teams during the World Cup qualification tournaments (WC) using a multicomponent athlete monitoring system and explored the relationships between these profiles and the players' body composition. Athlete's body composition was measured as there were total distance, distance covered at different velocities, explosive efforts, sprints, and estimated player load (PL) during the 2018-2019 World Cup Qualifiers. Males had greater muscle and lower fat mass than females and covered 10.8% more total distance with maximal speed being 15.3% faster in match play (P<0.05). However, females covered more distance at higher running speeds and had a greater number of sprints (P<0.05). For males, the U20 club was 3.7% faster and performed 26.3% more explosive efforts than the U17 club (P<0.05). Contrastingly, the female U17 club covered more total distance, more distance at different speeds had more total sprints, greater PL, and muscle mass than the U20 club (P<0.05). Across all athletes, fat mass correlated negatively to total distance (R=-0.39; P=0.001), while muscle mass correlated positively with maximal speed (R=0.72; P=0.001). Gender, competitive level, and body composition seem to affect match-activity profiles in football players during WC qualifiers.

Mind or Medal: Elite Athletes’ Mental Health Management in Sports Events

There is a conversation in American athletics over the mental health experiences of athletes. Elite athletes encounter consequences ranging from mental well-being to mental illness. Some experts are concerned health of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes. The proliferation of research on elite athletes’ mental health culminated in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Expert Consensus Statement. Given the importance of athletes’ mental health, this case study reviews the literature and the relevance of athletic identity to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of poor mental health and fills the gap in theory/research and practice in elite sport.

Long-term Outcomes of Multiligament Knee Injuries in American Football Players

Background: Long-term outcomes for isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in competitive American football athletes are well reported in the literature, but little data currently exist regarding multiligament knee injury (MLKI) reconstruction outcomes. Purpose: To examine patient-reported and return-to-sport outcomes of competitive American football athletes who underwent primary, single-staged, multiligament knee reconstruction. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4 Methods: We identified patients from our institution’s prospectively collected data repository between 2001 and 2020 who underwent single-staged surgical reconstruction of an MLKI sustained during competitive participation in American football. We assessed patient-reported outcomes at a minimum of 2 years after surgery using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form and questions regarding surgical satisfaction and return to sport. Successful return to sport was defined as a return to preinjury level of competition. We summarized all outcome data and compared outcomes between 2-ligament and >2-ligament groups and between ACL-only MLKI injury and bicruciate MLKI injury groups using independent t test for IKDC scores and chi-square test for return to sport. Additionally, we evaluated predictors of postoperative IKDC scores using linear regression and predictors of return to sport using logistic regression. Results: Outcome data were successfully collected for 53 of 73 total eligible patients (73%; mean follow-up time, 7.7 ± 4.0 years; all male; mean age at surgery, 18.1 ± 2.7 years). The mean postoperative IKDC score was 84 ± 16. The most common level of preinjury competition was high school (n = 36; 68%), followed by college (n = 10; 19%). Seven patients did not return to sport competition at any level due to limitations from their knee surgery, and 82% of patients that attempted to return to preinjury level of sport were able to do so. A total of 50 patients (94%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their surgical outcome. The 2-ligament (n = 39) and >2-ligament (n = 14) groups did not significantly differ in IKDC scores (P = .96) or proportions with successful return to sport (P = .77). Similarly, the ACL-MLKI injury (n = 39) and bicruciate MLKI injury (n = 14) groups did not significantly differ in IKDC scores (P = .89) or proportions with successful return to sport (P = .77). Age and body mass index were not significantly associated with IKDC scores or successful return to sport at follow-up (all P > .05). Conclusion: This study may represent the largest cohort of competitive American football athletes evaluated for longitudinal outcomes after multiligament knee reconstruction. Despite the severity of these injuries, we found good knee-related function and that the large majority of athletes who attempted to return to sport were successful. The majority of athletes (94%) were satisfied with their operative treatment.

:Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics

:<i>Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics</i>

Characterization of Running Intensity in Canadian Football Based on Tactical Position.

This study aimed to use a data-driven approach to identify individualized speed thresholds to characterize running demands and athlete workload during games and practices in skill and linemen football players. Data were recorded from wearable sensors over 28 sessions from 30 male Canadian varsity football athletes, resulting in a total of 287 performances analyzed, including 137 games and 150 practices, using a global positioning system. Speed zones were identified for each performance by fitting a 5-dimensional Gaussian mixture model (GMM) corresponding to 5 running intensity zones from minimal (zone 1) to maximal (zone 5). Skill players had significantly higher (p < 0.001) speed thresholds, percentage of time spent, and distance covered in maximal intensity zones compared to linemen. The distance covered in game settings was significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to practices. This study highlighted the use of individualized speed thresholds to determine running intensity and athlete workloads for American and Canadian football athletes, as well as compare running performances between practice and game scenarios. This approach can be used to monitor physical workload in athletes with respect to their tactical positions during practices and games, and to ensure that athletes are adequately trained to meet in-game physical demands.

The philosophy of modern olympism through the eyes of Ukrainian and American athletes

Many scientists in the field of history of physical culture, sports and the Olympic movement are concerned with the philosophy of modern Olympism and its main principles. The article focuses on the fact that the foundations of modern Olympism were laid at the end of the 19th century by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the initiator of the revival of the Olympic Games. It was he who first proposed the philosophical doctrine of Olympism, based on universal moral principles. Pierre de Coubertin believed that Olympism was due to his humanistic potential combines sport with culture and education, serves as a worldview and axiological basis for the upbringing of the younger generation. Ancient Greek philosophers understood that physical perfection, strength and health only in combination with spiritual and moral qualities and education through exercises and competitions formed a perfect personality. Pierre de Coubertin, having drawn inspiration from the Ancient Olympic Games and the principles of the Greek education system, was convinced that the philosophy that created Greek culture can serve the development of modern humanity. Today, Olympism has the status of universal value and is an important factor of culture in general and sports culture in particular. But, as it turned out, athletes on different continents perceive the philosophy of modern Olympism in different ways. Pole dance, a relatively new sport that is rapidly developing and gaining popularity all over the world, particularly in Ukraine, was chosen for the study. The impetus for the study was the fact that Cathy Coates, the founder of the international Pole dance federation, together with supporters of this bright sport, are fighting for it to be included in the Olympic Games program. As a result of the analysis of the extended guide interview of 14 Ukrainian and 16 American athletes, it became clear that their opinions regarding the philosophy of modern Olympism were divided. This is how Ukrainian sportswomen claim that the philosophy of modern Olympism glorifies and unites into a harmonious whole the highest qualities of spirit, will, soul, mind and body, forms respect for universal fundamental ethical principles and puts sport at the service of harmonious human development. American athletes think somewhat differently: they partially agree with the quotes philosophy of modern Olympism, but believe that it has many flaws that need to be corrected (doping, politicization and illegal betting).

"Is It Realistic?": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Elite Women Athletes Considering Parenthood.

As the visibility and acceptance of athlete-mothers increase, so does the number of women athletes considering parenthood. Yet, many athletes struggle with the decision to become a parent while competing at the elite level due to the significant changes and uncertainties that have been reported by pregnant and parenting athletes. The experiences of women athletes considering parenthood are under-represented in the vast sport literature but are necessary for developing evidenced-based policies and practices that can support women's equitable participation in high-performance sport contexts. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of elite women athletes that are considering parenthood. Participants were ten elite North American athletes (29-36years) who are considering becoming parents in the next 5years. Each participant self-identified as a woman and competed at the highest level in their respective sport. Data were generated via one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through a process of content analysis. The experiences of elite women athletes considering parenthood are represented by five themes: (a) calls for essential mandates and leadership, (b) how do you support yourself?, (c) hesitation of body changes, (d) age inequities, and (e) being proactive about reproductive health. Such findings support an in-depth understanding of gender-specific stressors that limit women's equitable participation in high-performance contexts. This research is grounded in the voices of elite women athletes and identifies actionable steps necessary for research and culture change. Findings provide necessary evidence to inform the development of sport policies to support those athletes that are considering becoming parents.

The first Ukrainian-American Olympic in 1936 in Philadelphia: memories of the organizers and participants

In the scientific study, an analysis and an attempt to make up for the historically lost time and at least partially return to us the real Ukrainian history of sports and the Olympic movement are carried out. Currently, many pages of the history of Ukrainian sports remain little known. One of them is sports competitions of the Ukrainian diaspora. Their organization required significant efforts, the involvement of specialists, well-known sports and public figures, representatives of state authorities, etc. The symbolic combination of the Olympics of the Ukrainian diaspora with the Olympic Games contributed to the development of the Ukrainian sports and Olympic movement abroad. In September 1936, a grand event in the life of the Ukrainian and American community took place in Philadelphia (USA) - the First Ukrainian-American Olympics or the «First Ukrainian National Games» under the patronage of Ukrainian-American organizations of the city of Philadelphia together with the Ukrainian Catholic League and the American Athletic Union.

Comparison of Kinematics for Head Impacts Initiated by Helmets and Shoulder Pads Among High School American Football Athletes.

Helmets and shoulder pads are required equipment intended to protect American football athletes by attenuating collision forces during participation. Surprisingly, research differentiating kinematics from head impactsinitiated by helmets from those initiated by shoulder pads among adolescent athletes has not been completed. The current study's purpose was to determine the effects of equipment on head impact kinematics. Sixty-nine male American football athletes from three high schools worehelmets equipped with Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) System instrumentation to quantify peak linear (g) and rotational (rad/s2) accelerations. Data were extracted for video-confirmed impacts during two competitions. Separate multivariable linear regressions using ordinary least squares were conducted to determine if equipment type (helmet vs. shoulder pad) was associated with log-transformed linear and rotational accelerations. In total, 1150 video-confirmed impacts involved helmet (N = 960) or shoulder pad (N = 190) initiated contact. Linear (p = 0.809) and rotational (p = 0.351) acceleration were not associated with equipment type. Head impact kinematics were similar between impacts initiated by either helmets or shoulder pads and suggests an opponent's shoulder pads and helmet can deliver comparable forces to the struck player. Equipment manufacturers may need to consider the unintended role shoulder pads maycontribute to head injury risk.

Anthropometry and athletic performance with Zybek sports in elite American taekwondo athletes

Introduction: The relationship between anthropometric characteristics and athletic performance in taekwondo athletes is a topic of growing interest in the field of sports science and physical preparation. Objective: To determine the relationship between athletic performance in Zybek Sport tests and anthropometry in elite American taekwondo athletes. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational quasi-experimental cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of (n = 470) taekwondo athletes. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, and BMI. Athletic performance was assessed using Zybek Sports Performance Standardized Athletic Testing (SAT®). Results: Negative and statistically significant relationships were identified between the 10 and 20-yard sprints and height (p &lt; .000) and (p &lt; .000), weight (p &lt; .000) and (p &lt; .000), and BMI (p &lt; .016) and (p &lt; .000). The pro Agility test only showed a significant negative relationship with weight (p &lt; .000) and height (p &lt; .000). As for the 40-yard dash, horizontal jump, and vertical jump, which showed positive and significant relationships, it was identified that performance in these tests is influenced by greater height (p &lt; .000), (p &lt; .000), (p &lt; .000), weight (p &lt; .000), (p &lt; .000), (p &lt; .000), and BMI (p &lt; .000), (p &lt; .003) respectively. Except for the vertical jump, which did not show a significant correlation with BMI (p &lt; .542). Conclusion: In conclusion, despite the heterogeneity of the relationships, lower weight, height, and BMI were found to improve performance in the 10 and 20-yard sprints as well as in the pro agility test. In the case of the 40-yard dash, horizontal jump, and vertical jump, greater weight, height, and BMI were related to better performance in these tests, with the exception of the vertical jump, which did not show a significant correlation with BMI.

Gut microbiota are differentially correlated with blood pressure status in African American collegiate athletes: A pilot study.

Hypertension (HTN) is common among athletes and the most recent epidemiologic data reports that cardiovascular (CV) sudden death is significantly greater in African Americans (AAs). Gut microbial dysbiosis (a poorly diverse stool microbial profile) has been associated with HTN in sedentary people but microbial characteristics of athletes with HTN are unknown. Our purpose was to differentiate microbiome characteristics associated with BP status in AA collegiate athletes. Thirty AA collegiate athletes were stratified by normal BP (systolic BP (SBP) ≤130 mmHg; n = 15) and HTN (SBP ≥130 mmHg; n = 15). 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on stool samples to identify microbes at the genus level. We did not observe any significant differences in alpha diversity, but beta diversity was different between groups. Principal coordinate analysis was significantly different (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05, R = 0.235) between groups. Spearman rank correlations showed a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between systolic BP and abundances for Adlercreutzia (R = 0.64), Coprococcus (R = 0.49), Granulicatella (R = 0.63), and Veillonella (R = 0.41). Gut microbial characteristics were associated with differentially abundant microbial genus' and BP status. These results will direct future studies to define the functions of these microbes associated with BP in athletes.

Risk of low energy availability, eating disorders and food insecurity amongst development female rugby league players.

There have been several published studies on the prevalence of low energy availability (LEA) risk amongst North American and European endurance athletes. Yet the prevalence and risk factors amongst rugby league players are less well understood. This study assessed the prevalence of low energy availability risk, eating disorder risk, and food security amongst players from a female National Rugby League squad in Australia. Players from one Australian professional rugby league club volunteered to participate in the study. An online questionnaire was conducted to determine the prevalence of low energy availability (Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire [LEAF-Q]), eating disorder risk (Eating Disorders Inventory [EDI-3]), and food security. Differences between those "at risk" and "not at risk" based on their total LEAF-Q score were determined. Of the 28 players, 64% (N.=18) were at risk of LEA. Raw scores for the EDI-3 subscales, body dissatisfaction (P=0.043), bulimia (P=0.002), composite score (P=0.038), were significantly higher for those at risk and not at risk of LEA. Forty percent of players had some level of food insecurity. The results suggest LEA risk is similar to other populations and those at risk of LEA are more likely to have an elevated clinical risk of eating disorders. Food security is also an issue in this population and could contribute to LEA risk for some. Future research is needed amongst team sports athletes to understand interplay between eating disorder risk and food insecurity with LEA risk.

Longitudinal changes in resting state fMRI brain self-similarity of asymptomatic high school American football athletes

American football has become the focus of numerous studies highlighting a growing concern that cumulative exposure to repetitive, sports-related head acceleration events (HAEs) may have negative consequences for brain health, even in the absence of a diagnosed concussion. In this longitudinal study, brain functional connectivity was analyzed in a cohort of high school American football athletes over a single play season and compared against participants in non-collision high school sports. Football athletes underwent four resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging sessions: once before (pre-season), twice during (in-season), and once 34–80 days after the contact activities play season ended (post-season). For each imaging session, functional connectomes (FCs) were computed for each athlete and compared across sessions using a metric reflecting the (self) similarity between two FCs. HAEs were monitored during all practices and games throughout the season using head-mounted sensors. Relative to the pre-season scan session, football athletes exhibited decreased FC self-similarity at the later in-season session, with apparent recovery of self-similarity by the time of the post-season session. In addition, both within and post-season self-similarity was correlated with cumulative exposure to head acceleration events. These results suggest that repetitive exposure to HAEs produces alterations in functional brain connectivity and highlight the necessity of collision-free recovery periods for football athletes.

Anti-Black Misandry as an Emotional Reflection With Black American Male College Athletes: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study

Black American males, specifically Black male athletes, experience a form of twoness that uniquely recognizes their talents but also a societal fear. This work addresses Black American males’ multidimensionality and emotional and psychological expressions when dealing with societal racism. This work explores Anti-Black misandry through an interpretive phenomenological lens. Five Black American men who are former college athletes reflect and emotionally express their experiences being a Black man and an athlete throughout their entire athletic continuum and post their athletic tenure. Results suggest that Black males are willing to express their vulnerabilities emotionally in safe spaces while recognizing racialized gender norms about emotional expressions. Implications of this study suggest that Black American male college athletes, when given constructive support, have meaningful ideas and resolutions about how society can honestly acknowledge their humanity and not just gaze at their existence as entertaining objects.

Black Mercuries: African American Athletes, Race, and the Modern Olympic Games

Black Mercuries: African American Athletes, Race, and the Modern Olympic Games

Social context and hardiness in selected national athletes of weightlifting

The objective of this research is to identify relationships between social context dimensions and hardiness in elite weightlifting athletes. Methods: The design: non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational, the participants were 20 athletes who belong to the elite as the national team of Mexico, they are between 19 and 28 years of age, M = 22.05 SD = 2.91, 8 men (40%) and 12 women (60%). 2 instruments were used, the first is the Perception of Factors Related to Excellence in Sport (PFED), (Simón, 2009) consisting of 54 items 6 variables, coach, environment and resources, athlete, family, nature of training and characteristics of the training and the second the questionnaire of hardiness in Central American and Caribbean Athletes (PRDCC) (Ponce, 2017; Ponce-Carbajal et al. 2015) of 18 items and three variables, commitment control and challenge. In the procedure, a file was created in google forms and coaches who are in charge of athletes from the Mexican national weightlifting team were contacted. The statistical analyzes used were frequencies, descriptive, reliability, and Spearman's bivariate correlations. Results: Adequate internal consistency in almost all the variables, between .40 and .92 in the 2 questionnaires. In the correlations between variables of the social context and those of the hardiness, relationships were evidenced between the total resistant personality and the nature of the training with an r = .767** and the challenge variable correlated with two, the first is the nature of the training r =.834** and with the characteristics of training r =.671**. Conclusion, the relationships between the variables of the social context and the resistant personality are confirmed.

СРЕДСТВА ВЕРБАЛИЗАЦИИ БАЗОВЫХ ЭМОЦИЙ В ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНЫХ ПОРТРЕТНЫХ ИНТЕРВЬЮ С АМЕРИКАНСКИМИ СПОРТСМЕНАМИ

The article is dedicated to the issue of verbalization of emotion in an individual portrait interview with American athletes. The work provides approaches to the definition of basic emotions from the point of view of psychology and psycholinguistics, it also touches upon the question of the number of basic emotions. The aim of the work is to identify prevailing means of verbalizing emotions in individual sports interviews. The research material consists of 50 video interviews with American athletes by American journalists. Sports is a topical and widely discussed theme in everyday life, outstanding athletes are the subjects of national pride, so emotivity is an ubiquitous component of the sports discourse, this fact makes the work relevant. The authors believe that the verbalization of emotions by athletes and journalists in individual interviews has specific features connected with the peculiarities of one-to-one communication. In addition, this is the first time basic emotions are studied in the perspective of sports discourse. Research methods: continuous sampling, generalization and interpretation of results, introspection. The object of the study is 6 emotions (joy, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise), which are recognized as basic by the majority of scientists. Interview analysis shows that mostly positive emotions (joy, pleasant surprise) are verbalized. Verbalization of emotions is realized by lexical and syntactic means. Lexical means include exact naming of the emotion and description of emotional state, syntactic means are represented by repetitions. The selected factual material is undoubtedly of scientific interest to researchers. The results of the study can serve as a basis for further research of the verbalization of basic emotions, make a certain contribution to the linguistics of emotions and linguistic theory of communication.

A Cross-Cultural Comparison Study of the Relationships Between Perceived Coaching Behaviors and Student Athletes’ Competitive Anxiety

Purposes: Student athletes from different cultures might differ in the ways that they experience competitive anxiety, and their coaches with dissimilar cultural backgrounds might also present distinct behavioral traits in coaching. The study assessed and compared the competitive anxiety experienced by Chinese student athletes (in a collectivist culture) and American student athletes (in an individualist culture) by using a new competitive anxiety model and examined how their distinct ways of experiencing competitive anxiety might relate to the leading behaviors of Chinese and American coaches. Method: Relevant measures were administered to 258 Chinese student athletes and 214 American student athletes to assess their competitive anxiety and perceived leading behaviors of their coaches. Results: Chinese student athletes scored significantly higher on social expectation anxiety and somatic anxiety in comparison with American student athletes. Chinese student athletes perceived higher levels of training and instruction, and autocratic behaviors of coaches, and American student athletes perceived higher levels of democratic behaviors of coaches. Conclusions: This study revealed the different ways of experiencing certain aspects of competitive anxiety between Chinese and American student athletes, which could be at least partially explained by the distinct leading behaviors of Chinese and American coaches perceived by student athletes in the research.