Turkish Athletes Research Articles

The Psychometric Properties of the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version

Social support research in sports has attracted considerable attention in recent years. There are limited sport-specific support perception measurements to measure Turkish athletes' support perceptions. The present study was conducted to adapt the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire developed by Freeman et al. (2011) into Turkish and examine the measurement's psychometric properties. A total of 300 athletes aged between 18-22 years were included in the study. The factor structure of the measurement was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The obtained data revealed significant factor loadings and produced acceptable fit indices. Both internal consistency and composite reliability values were found to be high, thus supporting the validity and reliability of the measurement. The results show that the measurement retains its original structure consisting of 4 dimensions (esteem support, emotional support, information support, and tangible support) and 16 items, each containing four items. Accordingly, it was concluded that the Perceived Accessible Support in Sport Questionnaire is a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish athletes.

Investigating the impact of coach behaviours and coach-athlete relationships on psychological safety

ABSTRACT The aims of the present study were two-fold: (a) to examine the links between two sets of perceived coach behaviours (supportive and controlling) and psychological safety, as well as (b) to explore whether the quality of the coach-athlete relationship explains the link between the two sets of coach behaviours and psychological safety. A total of 295 Turkish athletes (42% female and 58% male) in team sports with a mean age of 21.69 (±4.71) completed a multi-section questionnaire that measured the three main variables of the study, namely, coach behaviours, coach-athlete relationship quality, and psychological safety. Structural equation modelling revealed that both perceived coach behaviours (supportive and thwarting/controlling) and coach-athlete relationship quality predicted athletes’ psychological safety in their team. Moreover, the quality of the coach-athlete relationship explained the association between athletes’ perceptions of coach behaviours and psychological safety within the team context. The findings of this study contribute to growing research that examines the processes by which psychological safety can be nurtured in sports. While evidence thus far suggests that a coach orchestrates the environment, the findings of this study would seem to suggest that athletes, through good-quality relationships with their coaches, can stimulate the creation of a psychologically safe environment. The findings are discussed with a particular emphasis on future research directions and practical applications.

Fitness Sporcularında Kas Yoksunluğu ile Yeme Bozukluğu Arasındaki İlişkinin Araştırılması

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between muscle deprivation and eating disorder tendency in the sample of Turkish athletes and to examine them in terms of gender, years of doing sports and number of training.
 A total of 276 fitness athletes with an average age of 26.72, determined by the random sampling method based on voluntariness, participated in the questionnaire applied in the study. The data of the research were collected by google form online questionnaire using “Personal Information Form”, “Muscle Deprivation Scale” and “Orthorexia-11 Scale”. Independent Sample T Test, One-Way ANOVA test and Pearson Correlation test were used to analyze the data determined to be normally distributed. 
 It was determined that the muscle deprivation scores of the athletes differed according to gender, number of training sessions and years of doing sports (p

Evaluation of a circadian rhythm gene (PER3) VNTR variant in Turkish athletes

Objective Circadian rhythmicity has been shown to contribute to the regulation of key physiological and cognitive processes related to performance. The period homolog 3 (PER3) is expressed in a circadian pattern in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the variable tandem repeat (VNTR) variant of the PER3 gene in athletic performance in the Turkish population. Methods This study included 223 subjects, which consisted of 123 athletes and 100 sedentary controls. Blood samples were drawn from all subjects. DNA was extracted from whole-blood samples. The PER3 VNTR variant was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction method (PCR). The results of the analyses were evaluated for statistical significance. Results The mean ages of athletes and controls were 22 ± 2.814 and 23 ± 3.561, respectively. Endurance athletes in the group were 21.1%, and sprint athletes were 78.9%. There was no statistical significance in terms of PER3 VNTR genotype distribution or allele frequency. In the recessive model, a statistically significant association was observed when the athletes were compared with the controls according to 4/4 + 4/5 versus 5/5 genotype (p = 0.020). Conclusion In this case-control study, for the first time in our country, we obtained findings suggesting that the PER3 VNTR variant may affect sports performance in the Turkish population. Results need to be replicated in different ethnic and larger samples.

Resilience and Extrinsic Motivation as Mediators in the Relationship between Fear of Failure and Burnout.

Athletes with fear of failure are at risk of developing the symptoms of a wide range of psychological problems, including burnout. Understanding the risks and protective factors of athletes' psychological health is an essential step in tailoring strategies and interventions to promote athletes' psychological and mental health. This study examined the mediating roles of resilience and extrinsic motivation in the relationship between fear of failure and burnout among Turkish athletes. The study included 335 young athletes (93.4% males) whose ages ranged from 18 to 55 years (M = 24.95, SD = 8.22). Participants completed the self-reported measures of fear of failure, resilience, extrinsic motivation, and burnout. The analysis revealed that fear of failure had significant predictive effects on resilience, extrinsic motivation, and burnout. Resilience and extrinsic motivation also had significant predictive effects on burnout. The mediation analysis results showed that both resilience and extrinsic motivation partially mediated the effect of fear of failure on athlete burnout. The findings of the study provide a better insight into the underlying mechanisms between fear of failure and athlete burnout by considering resilience and extrinsic motivation as mediators. These results suggest that the adverse impact of fear of failure on athlete burnout can be mitigated by cultivating resilience and hindering extrinsic motivation.

Fear of COVID-19, Resilience, and Future Anxiety: Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Dark Future Scale.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many disruptions to individuals' everyday lives and caused wide-ranging, drastic effects on their well-being, mental health, and physical health. This study sought to validate the Dark Future Scale (DFS) and examine its reliability and validity in Turkish. The present study also examined the relationship between fear of COVID-19, dark future anxiety, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Four hundred and eighty-nine Turkish athletes (mean age = 23.08 ± 6.64) completed measures on fear, anxiety, resilience, and demographic information. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the DFS had a one-factor solution with good reliability. Fear of COVID-19 significantly predicted resilience and future anxiety. Furthermore, resilience significantly predicted anxiety and mediated the effect of fear of COVID-19 on future anxiety. The findings have important implications for improving mental health and developing the resiliency of athletes during public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examining mindfulness and moral disengagement in doping: Perspective of Turkish wrestlers.

Studies related to attitudes toward the use of prohibited substances in Turkish athletes are scarce. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has implemented anti-doping educational policies emphasizing doping-related education in studies conducted among Turkish wrestlers. However, it is still unclear the extent to which the wrestlers comply and adhere to these anti-doping policies. No research has previously examined the effect of anti-doping education on athletes' mindfulness and moral disengagement in doping (MDD). Therefore, the present study has a two-fold objective: first, to examine whether doping-related education (DRE) and the status of being a national athlete (NA) have an effect on athlete mindfulness and MDD. Second, to analyze the relationship between each sub-dimensions of athlete mindfulness: awareness (ASD), judgment (JSD), and refocus (RSD) with MDD. A total of 409 male wrestlers participated in this study. MANOVA analysis showed that NA and DRE alone have no effect on MDD but have a general effect on mindfulness. The highest effect was on the ASD of being an NA ( = 0.173). When the interaction effect of NA*DRE was examined, significant difference in MDD (F = 8.218, p = 0.004), ASD (F = 8.476, p = 0.004), JSD (F = 5.844, p = 0.016), and RSD (F = 11.476, p = 0.001) were found. MDD has a weak negative relationship with ASD (r = -0.126) and RSD (r = -0.041) and a weak positive relationship with the JSD sub-dimension (r = 0.140). Those results suggest that being a NA and having received anti-doping education affect moral disengagement in doping and athletes' mindfulness. As a conclusion, it is recommended to increase awareness and anti-doping education among national-standard Turkish wrestlers to prevent them from engaging in doping behaviors.

Exome-Wide Association Study of Competitive Performance in Elite Athletes

The aim of the study was to identify genetic variants associated with personal best scores in Turkish track and field athletes and to compare allelic frequencies between sprint/power and endurance athletes and controls using a whole-exome sequencing (WES) approach, followed by replication studies in independent cohorts. The discovery phase involved 60 elite Turkish athletes (31 sprint/power and 29 endurance) and 20 ethnically matched controls. The replication phase involved 1132 individuals (115 elite Russian sprinters, 373 elite Russian endurance athletes (of which 75 athletes were with VO2max measurements), 209 controls, 148 Russian and 287 Finnish individuals with muscle fiber composition and cross-sectional area (CSA) data). None of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reached an exome-wide significance level (p < 2.3 × 10-7) in genotype-phenotype and case-control studies of Turkish athletes. However, of the 53 nominally (p < 0.05) associated SNPs, four functional variants were replicated. The SIRT1 rs41299232 G allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish (p = 0.047) and Russian (p = 0.018) endurance athletes compared to sprint/power athletes and was associated with increased VO2max (p = 0.037) and a greater proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers (p = 0.035). The NUP210 rs2280084 A allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish (p = 0.044) and Russian (p = 0.012) endurance athletes compared to sprint/power athletes. The TRPM2 rs1785440 G allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish endurance athletes compared to sprint/power athletes (p = 0.034) and was associated with increased VO2max (p = 0.008). The AGRN rs4074992 C allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish sprint/power athletes compared to endurance athletes (p = 0.037) and was associated with a greater CSA of fast-twitch muscle fibers (p = 0.024). In conclusion, we present the first WES study of athletes showing that this approach can be used to identify novel genetic markers associated with exercise- and sport-related phenotypes.

Sporda Gözlemsel Kolektif Yeterlik Ölçeği: Türkçe Formunun Geçerlik ve GÜvenirlik Çalışması

The study aimed to analyze the Observational Collective Efficacy Scale for Sport (OCESS). 242 Turkish athletes and 85 Turkish coaches participated in the study. After performing the first step for the language validity of the scale by using the translation-back translation method, it was sent to the athletes as an online form. Athletes responded to the items voluntarily. KMO and Bartlett’s test of sphericity values were calculated to determine whether the data was proper for factor analysis. The initial factor structure of the scale was tested with CFA. While the Pearson correlation test was used for criterion-related validity, the internal consistency coefficient was calculated with Cronbach’s alpha. While KMO was found to be 0.84, Bartlett’s test of sphericity was statistically significant. The item factor loadings ranged between 0.64 and 0.88. In sum, the Turkish version of the OCESS presents acceptable psychometric properties and may be used to assess athletes’ collective efficacy beliefs in team sports repeatedly.

Comparison of potential biomarker, ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism, for athletic performance of Turkish athletes.

α-Actinin-3 is one of the key components of the Z-line structure of sarcomeres and also have importance in muscle cell signaling processes. Therefore, α-Actinin-3 gene rs1815739 polymorphism is one of the most analysed potential genetic biomarkers in sports genetic studies. We aimed to evaluate the genotypic and allelic distribution of α-Actinin-3 gene rs1815739 polymorphism in Turkish athletes. For this purpose, a total of 131 athletes (39 cyclists, 34 sprinters and distance athletes, 33 volleyball players, 15 bodybuilders and 10 ironmen) and 89 sedentary individuals were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA from venous blood were isolated by using the PureLink DNA isolation kit by following the manufacturers' instructions. The α-Actinin-3 rs1815739 genotyping was carried out by Real-time PCR using the commercially provided Taqman Genotyping Assay. The statistical evaluations were assessed by the chi-square testing using the GraphPad InStat statistical package. Results showed that cyclists, ironmen and volleyball players showed statistically significant differences in terms of the genotype when compared to the controls. The OR of having the dominant trait (RR genotype vs. RX+XX combined) was 0.5 (95%CI: 0.28-0.91; P= 0.02) which was statistically significant, while the OR of having the recessive trait (XX genotype vs. RR+RX combined) was 3.76 (95%CI: 1.82-7.39; P=0.0002). Our findings indicated that the α-Actinin-3 gene rs1815739 RR genotype was more prevalent in the sprinters and distance athletes. In the bodybuilders, cyclists, and ironmen it was found that they were harboring the RR and RX genotype equally. According to the results, we suggest the α-Actinin-3 rs1815739 as a potential biomarker for personal training programs.

ACTN3 R577X variant: could it be a determinant of sports performance in elite athletes in a Turkish population?

ACTN3 gene, which encodes a-actinin-3 and actin-binding protein, has been found to be associated with strong athletic performance, especially among track and field athletes. Therefore, in this study, our aim was to compare the allelic and genotype frequencies of the ACTN3 R577X variant among elite athletes specialized in different branches, and nonathletic controls in Turkey. In the present study, 316 subjects, including 168 athletes and 148 sedentary controls were genotyped for the ACTN3 R577X variant. Genotyping was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Additionally, we evaluated the groups by dividing them as females and males. There were 48 females and 120 males in the athletes group, and 43 females and 105 males in the control group. Genetic associations were evaluated by chi-squire test or Fisher's exact test. There was a significant difference between the athletes and controls in terms of the ACTN3 R577X variant. ACTN3 RR and XX genotypes increased in the controls compared to the athletes, while RX genotype was higher in the athletes than the controls (P = 0.030). Then we evaluated the groups by separating them as females and males. Genotype distribution of the ACTN3 R577X differed between the male athletes and the male controls (P = 0.046). ACTN3 R577X RX genotype increased in the male athletes compared to the male control (P = 0.046). But ACTN3 R577X genotype and allele distribution was not significant between female athletes and female control group (P>0.05). As far as we know, this study is the largest series examining the ACTN3 R577X variant in Turkish athletes. Our results support that the ACTN3 R577X variant has a heterozygous advantage in athletic performance in the Turkish population. However, epigenetic, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions affects athlete performance should not be forgotten.

Preliminary Findings of the Distribution of Alpha-2-Adrenergic Receptor (ADRA2A) rs1800544 Polymorphisms in Kickboxing Players

Objective: Adrenergic receptors have a critical role in regulating neurotransmitter release from sympathetic nerves and adrenergic neurons in the central nervous system. The rs1800544 polymorphism in 3’-untranslated region of ADRA2A is caused by C-1291&gt;G nucleotide change. In this study, we aimed to analyze the rs1800544 distribution in kickboxing players.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods: A total of 12 male players and 101 sedentary individuals (as a control group) participated in the study. Following DNA isolation, rs1800544 polymorphism of ADRA2A was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Rt-PCR). Statistical analysis was carried out by chi-square test. &#x0D; &#x0D; Results: CC, CG and GG genotypes and percentages for rs1800544 polymorphism were analyzed as 5 (41,7%), 4 (33,3%) and 3 (25%), respectively. C allele was counted as 14 (58,3%) and G allele as 10 (41,7%). In the control group CC, CG and GG were found as 34 (33,6%), 53 (52,5%), 14(13,9%), respectively. C allele was counted as 121 (60%) and G allele as 81 (40%). When we compare athletes and controls in the terms of genotypes, we detected no statistically significant difference (p&gt;0,3940). For the allele comparison, we detected no significant difference between groups (p&gt;0,0871). &#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion: Determination of gene combinations in Turkish athletes is of great importance for carrying out of these studies. Therefore, we aimed to determine the distribution of the alleles related with athletic performance on successful athletes. In our cohort, CC genotype was more frequently found, and C allele was also higher in players. We think that the effect of ADR2A2 gene on athletic performance might be determined more clearly by the fact that this study is an example of similar studies involving higher numbers of subjects.

A Case-Control Study Investigating the Effect of MTHFR C677T Variant on Performance of Elite Athletes.

Increased level of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is a potential risk factor for several multi-system diseases. The Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T variant has been established as an important genetic determinant of hyperhomocysteinemia. There are conflicting reports about the effects of physical activity on plasma Hcy. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate whether the MTHFR C677T variant affects elite athletic performance. This study was carried out on 214 individuals (114 elite athletes and 100 sedentary controls). Genotyping was performed using PCR- RFLP method. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association. There was a significant difference between the athletes and the control group in genotype distribution and allele frequency of the MTHFR C677T variant. MTHFR C677T CC genotype and C allele were more prevalent in elite athletes than those in the sedentary controls (p =0.007, OR: 2.16, 95%:1.26-3.70; p=0.009, OR: 1.84, 95%:1.18-2.89, respectively). The control group had a higher MTHFR C677T CT genotype than the athletes (p=0.019, OR: 0.51, 95%:0.30-0.88). There was no deviation from HWE for the MTHFR C677T variant in the groups. Our findings support that there is an association between the MTHFR C677T C allele and athletic performance among the elite Turkish athletes.

Examination of Mental Toughness and Emotional Intelligence to the Turkish and American Professional Basketball Players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mental toughness (MT) and emotional intelligence (EI) of Turkish and American professional basketball players in Turkish Professional Leagues. The population target was 156 participants (x̄age=24,35±5,48) from Turkish citizens, and 42 participants (x̄age =27,69±3,15) from USA citizens and a total of 198 professional basketball players participated from 17 professional teams. Participants completed "Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ)" developed by Scheard et al. (2009) and "Emotional Intelligence Scale for use in Sport (EISS)" developed by Let al.t al (2009). One-Way ANOVA test was utilized in order to examine the influence of an independent variable (citizenship) on dependent variables. The relation between emotional intelligence (EI) and mental toughness (MT) was analyzed through Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient technic (p &amp;lt;0.05). According to the results, significant differences were observed between citizenship variable in terms of EI and MT. In addition, a linear positive correlation was found while examining the relationship between the EI and MT subscales, EI social skills subscales and the MT constancy subscales. As a result of research, Turkish athletes have a higher of social skills score in terms of citizenship variables, while American players have better appraisal of others' emotions score. In addition, American citizens showed higher mean in terms of constancy and control subscales. The results also showed that the increase in MT constancy subscale scores causes the increase in EI social skills subscale scores.

The Coach–Athlete Relationship and Self-Talk in Turkish Athletes

Background: The first purpose of the study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire for Sports (ASTQS) in the Turkish language and the secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between the quality of the coach–athlete relationship and athletes’ self-talk. Methods: 477 athletes (females = 252, males = 225) completed the Turkish versions of the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) and the ASTQS. Results: ASTQS showed good psychometric properties in the Turkish language. Findings on the construct validity of the scale were consistent with the original scale’s 8-factor structure. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.65 to 0.91. Furthermore, path analysis results showed that closeness had a direct effect on disengagement, psych-up, and anxiety control. The commitment had a direct effect on somatic fatigue, and complementarity had a direct effect on worry, confidence, and instruction. Conclusions: Finally, the results from the present study indicated that the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire provided a reliable and valid measure for Turkish athletes. The results revealed the importance of the coach–athlete relationship in sport and its’ role in shaping athletes’ self-talk.

Validity and reliability of the Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for the Turkish athletes

Objective: The aim of this research is to determine validity and reliability of Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (SNKQ) for the Turkish athletes. Patients and Methods: A total of 210 participants (n = 125 elite athletes and n = 85 Nutrition and Dietetics Department senior students) aged 19-30 years were enrolled in the research. SNKQ was evaluated utilizing the psychometric criteria to determine the reliability of items, test-retest reliability and known groups validity, by significance test (Independent Samples t-Test) of the difference between the two groups. After two weeks, SNKQ was applied again to some participants (n = 42) with the purpose of assuring testretest reliability. Results: The Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire was detected as valid and reliable according to the high internal consistency value (Kuder Richardson-20 (KR-20) = 0.927) and high test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.974). The difference between SNKQ total scores of athletes (36.0 ± 8.1) and Nutrition and Dietetics Department students (59.1 ± 5.98) was statistically significant; thus, the known groups validity was obtained (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire is valid and reliable. It can be easily used to determine the nutrition knowledge level of the Turkish athletes.

Antrenör Pedagojik Yeterlik Ölçeğinin Türk Kültürüne Uyarlanması ve Genç Sporcuların Algılarına Göre Antrenörlerin Pedagojik Yeterliklerinin İncelenmesi

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Zetter (2008) tarafından geliştirilen Genç Sporcularda Antrenör Pedagojik Yeterlik Ölçeğinin (Pädagogischer Kompetenzmaßstab des Trainers im Nachwuchsleistungssport-PKTN) Türk genç sporcu örnekleminde uyarlanması ve farklı branşlarda yer alan genç sporcuların antrenörleri ile ilgili pedagojik yeterlik algılarının farklı değişkenlere göre incelenmesidir. Verilerin analizinde dil ve kapsam geçerliliği için Davis tekniği kullanılmıştır. Yapı geçerliliği için Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi (DFA), gruplar arası ortalama karşılaştırması için t testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizi teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Türkçe formun 4 farklı branşta yer alan toplam 461 genç sporcudan elde edilen veriler üzerinden yapılan doğrulayıcı faktör analizi sonuçları (X2 /sd =3,89 RMSEA=0.079) PKTN’nin empati ve dikkat, destek veya dayanışmanın engellenmesi, pozitif geri bildirim, sosyal destek, demokratik antrenman iklimi ve hedef odaklı antrenman alt boyutlarından oluşan altı faktörlü modeli ile veri uyumunun desteklendiği görülmekle birlikte özgün ölçekle benzer bir yapıya sahip olduğu görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak PKTN’nin Türk sporcuların antrenörlerinin pedagojik algılarını ölçmede, ilgili araştırmalarda kullanılmaya uygun geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olduğu görülmüştür. Çalışmanın ikinci aşamasında ise yine 4 farklı branşta (hentbol, voleybol, futbol, basketbol) yer alan toplam 505 genç sporcuya ulaşılmış ve genç sporcuların cinsiyet, yaş ve antrenörün cinsiyeti değişkenlerine göre incelenmiştir. Analizler sonucunda genç sporcuların antrenörlerinin pedagojik yeterlikleri ile ilgili algılarında, empati ve dikkat, pozitif geri bildirim, sosyal destek ve hedef odaklı antrenman davranışlarında kadın sporcuların lehine anlamlı bir fark görülmüştür.

Short Versions of Turkish Flow Scales: Reliability and Validity Study

The purpose of this study was to test the validity and reliability of “Short Flow State Scale-2 (SFSS-2)” and “Short Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (SDFS-2)” for Turkish athletes in two separate studies. One hundred ninety-seven (Mage = 22.05, SD = 3.60) athletes voluntarily participated in the first study to test the psychometric properties of SDFS-2 and completed SDFS-2, Long Dispositional Flow Scale-2 and Sport Motivation Scale. In the second study, 423 (Mage = 20.00, SD = 3.46) athletes constituted the sample group and completed SFSS-2, Flow State Scale2 and Situational Motivation Scale for testing the psychometric properties of SFSS-2. Factor structures of both scales were examined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Concurrent validity of the scales was examined Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis. The reliability evidence was obtained by Cronbach’s alpha values. The results of CFA analyses revealed that the both scales have nine items with one factor. All the correlation coefficients calculated for concurrent and convergent validity were significant (between 0.45-0.92 for SDFS-2 and 0.33-0.79 for SFSS-2). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients calculated for internal consistency were.77 for SDFS-2 and 0.82 for SFSS-2. The results indicated that Turkish versions of SDFS-2 and SFSS-2 are valid and reliable instruments for sports contexts.

Are You a Rabbit or a Turtle? A Comparative Analysis of the Pacing Profiles of the Turkish Origin and Non-Turkish Origin Elite Half-Marathon Athletes

The aim of this research was to designate and compare the pacing profiles of the Turkish and Non-Turkish female and male athletes completed and ranked in the first tenth (n = 79) in the determined half-marathon road races held in Turkey. The pacings of the athletes were divided into 5 separate segments (0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-21.1 km) and calculated on the basis of their average transition speed (min:sec/km). The differences both between the pacing profiles of the Turkish and Non-Turkish athlete groups and between the successive segments within the groups were examined separately for women and men with the variance analysis for mixed patterns. According to the results, there was no statistical differences between the pacing profiles of both female and male Turkish and Non-Turkish athletes (p &gt; 0.05). In addition, there was also no difference between the successive segments within the groups (p &gt; 0.05). According to these results, it can be said that the pacing profiles of the Turkish and Non-Turkish elite athletes were similar and close to even pacing profile without a last sprint. Although it was not statistically significant, all the athletes had small decreases in their pacings in the first 15 km of the race. In the last 6.1 km segment, while small increases in the pacings of the Non-Turkish female athletes were observed, the pacings of the Turkish women athletes were more even with small decreases. Considering the whole race, it was seen that the athletes showed pacing profiles close to positive and reverse J-shaped pacing profile.

Turkish Athletes in Olympics from The Republican Period

Turkish Athletes in Olympics from The Republican Period